Notes on the data: Aboriginal immunisation

Aboriginal children fully immunised at 1 year of age, 2 years of age and 5 years of age, 2021 calendar year

Policy context: Vaccine-preventable diseases have a costly impact on our health system, economy and individuals alike, resulting in doctors' visits, hospitalisations, poor school attendances, poor educational outcomes and premature deaths [1]. Immunisation has been and remains, a simple, timely, effective and affordable way to improve Aboriginal health, delivering positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (and non-Indigenous) peoples of all ages.

Immunisation coverage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is a significant public health strategy. If a sufficiently large proportion of children are immunised against a particular infectious disease, then the potential for that disease to spread in the community is greatly reduced. Another important implication of immunisation is the decrease in human suffering, disability and cost of health care through preventing an infectious disease and its consequences.

As at December 2018, the vaccination coverage rate was similar between Indigenous and Other children at each age [2].

References

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (NCIRS). Vaccination for our mob, 2006-2010. Sydney: NCIRS, 2014.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 3.02 Immunisation. Available from https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/3-02-immunisation; viewed 13 May 2023.

Notes: The data presented are of children at 1 year of age, 2 years of age and 5 years of age on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) who are fully immunised at 1 year of age, 2 years of age and 5 years of age: the definition of ‘fully immunised’ is available on the National Immunisation Program Schedule, which can be accessed here

Data are not shown for areas where there were fewer than six Aboriginal children immunised.

Geography: Data available by Indigenous Area, Primary Health Network, Quintile of socioeconomic outcomes (based on IRSEO) and Remoteness Area

Numerator: Aboriginal children fully immunised at 1 year of age, 2 years of age and 5 years of age in 2021

Denominator: Aboriginal children on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) at 1 year of age, 2 years of age and 5 years of age in 2021

Detail of analysis: Per cent

Source: Compiled by PHIDU based on data from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, 2021 calendar year.