New immunisation plan to tackle drop in childhood vaccination rates
The federal government has revealed plans to tackle declining childhood vaccination rates with the launch of a new immunisation plan.
It follows warnings from experts in recent months about the risk to herd immunity in Australia for some preventable diseases.
In launching the National Immunisation Strategy on Thursday, Health Minister Mark Butler will tell a communicable diseases and immunisation conference: "The new strategy comes at a critical time.
"Even though our childhood vaccination rates are still world leading, we cannot take this for granted," Mr Butler will say in a speech seen by the ABC.
The plan sets a goal of increasing immunisation uptake around Australia over the next five years by reducing vaccine hesitancy and improving access.
"Through this strategy, we will reduce the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases through high uptake of immunisation that is safe, effective and equitable across Australia," Mr Butler will say.
Several priority areas have been identified as crucial to increasing immunisation coverage, including building trust in vaccines.
First Nations communities will also be a key focus as they have lower vaccination rates than the rest of the Australian population for almost every vaccine.
"The urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic … highlighted clear needs for more equitable access to vaccination, particularly for individuals with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, rural and remote Australians, disadvantaged communities and CALD communities," the strategy reads.
The public health agency focused on vaccine-preventable diseases, the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, helped develop the plan.
Its director, Kristine Macartney, said key to improving vaccine coverage is tracking public sentiment, especially in priority groups such as First Nations communities, older people, infants and children, people with disability and residents in rural, remote and regional areas.
"We can do better at ensuring that partnerships are made with the community to really share information, share knowledge and address access or acceptance gaps," Professor Macartney said.
"There's an important element to understanding an individual's journey through the healthcare system to say, is this working for you to go and get your vaccines? Do you have the information and the access and the support from healthcare professionals and healthcare system that you would like to be able to take vaccines up?"
A real-time dashboard of coverage data for all Australian government-funded vaccines has also been flagged, which could publish up-to-date coverage data by "age group, scheduled vaccines, dose, socio-demographic detail, race and ethnicity, and pregnancy status".
Vaccination experts have told the ABC that dashboard would be "best practice", if it is well developed.
A no-fault vaccine compensation scheme will also be explored, similar to broader vaccine injury compensation systems in place in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Japan and South Korea.
Australia implemented a claims scheme for people who suffered a moderate to severe impact following an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine.
The new strategy emphasises vaccines are "overwhelmingly safe with only very rare serious adverse events", but broad compensation schemes should be accessible.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
EZZ and these ASX stocks ride China's growing kids supplement boom
Kids' vitamins boomed after Covid Aussie supplement brands win big in China's wellness craze EZZ surges with China sales, and expands into Southeast Asia When Covid hit, parents across the globe scrambled for ways to keep their families healthy. But while adults were downing zinc and elderberry by the handful, something else happened – children's supplements quietly exploded. Early in the pandemic, the general view was that kids weren't at serious risk from Covid, so supplements for them weren't top of mind. But when new variants started popping up like whack-a-moles and vaccines lagged for younger age groups, parental panic set in. Suddenly, boosting kids' immunity became a front-line priority. By mid-2022, the global children's supplements market was already 35% bigger than it was pre-pandemic. Gummy vitamins led the charge (no surprise there), but liquids, chewables and powders also spiked; anything that could get past fussy taste buds. And the momentum hasn't slowed. Analysts reckon the children's supplement market could be nearly 50% bigger by 2025 than it was before Covid hit. Riding the wellness wave Meanwhile, Aussie brands didn't just catch this wave, they were paddling out before the swell even formed, especially in China. Post-Covid, 'Brand Australia' has become gold-standard stuff across Chinese households. Clean, safe, and trusted. In a market where quality and safety matter more than ever, Aussie products walk in with halo lighting. From baby formula to supplements, Aussie goods feel like peace of mind in a bottle for the Chinese consumer. For instance, Blackmores, now delisted after its Kirin takeover in 2023, remains a major player in China, backed by its 'authentic Aussie wellness' reputation. Another big Aussie brand, Swisse, continues to blend local ingredients with savvy storytelling, tapping into China's love of natural health. Swisse's use of familiar ingredients like eucalyptus and tea tree, which are staples in traditional Chinese medicine, has helped the brand resonate with health-conscious parents. EZZ builds momentum in China and Southeast Asia But it's not just the big legacy names making traction in China. A newer and smaller player, EZZ Life Science (ASX:EZZ), has also carved out a fast-growing niche. Over 85% of EZZ's revenue now comes from China, where its children's supplements are tapping into a growing cultural pressure that's as much about wellbeing as it is about academic performance. In recent years, healthy bone development has become part of the competitive parenting equation in China, and bone growth supplements are taking off. EZZ's L-Lysine Growth Capsules and Bone Growth Chews 3.0, which feature ingredients like lysine, calcium, zinc, and vitamin D3, are formulated to support healthy bone development, according to their labels. These two products have quietly become bestsellers on Chinese platforms like Tmall and driven by parents looking for that extra edge in their child's growth journey. In the first half of FY25, EZZ notched up a 40% lift in revenue and a threefold rise in pre-tax profit. And while children's growth supplements have led the charge, EZZ's broader lineup – covering eye health, immune support, DHA chews, and minerals – continues to expand. All of it is backed by TGA registrations, GMP standards, and growing reach into pharmacies and e-commerce alike. Other ASX-listed players in the game There are a couple more listed names riding the children-and-wellness trend: Nutritional Growth Solutions (ASX:NGS), for instance, specialises in paediatric nutrition. Its clinically tested Healthy Heights milkshake is in US grocery chains and moving into APAC, including China. Vita Life Sciences (ASX:VLS) formulates and sells vitamins, minerals, and superfood supplements across Asia-Pacific, including China, and caters to all age groups with brands like VitaHealth and Herbs of Gold. These names, alongside EZZ, are part of a growing local cohort tapping into global demand for quality supplements.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Push for greater regulation of Australia's fertility industry
Victoria's health minister will advocate for greater regulation of the nation's fertility industry at a meeting with the federal health minister and state and territory leaders in Melbourne today.
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Australia's 'very distressing' vaccination rates and what the government is doing about it
The majority of children in Australia are vaccinated, but the government and experts say the goal is to reach 95 per cent coverage to ensure strong community protection. Source: Getty / dpa/picture alliance The declining rates of vaccination in Australia are "very distressing", according to one immunologist, as the federal government looks to tackle declining immunity. Health Minister Mark Butler launched the national immunisation strategy on Thursday, which aims to increase vaccine uptake and foster community trust. It's the kind of program that experts have told SBS News is vital in protecting vulnerable communities and children from diseases. John Dwyer, an immunologist and emeritus professor of medicine at the University of NSW, told SBS News there has been an erosion of trust in vaccines. "Declining rates of vaccination, especially among children in Australia, are very distressing," he said. "When you look at what's happening in the US, with the dismissal of top vaccine officials, it's a worry. Misinformation can be spreading not only there but here as well," Dwyer said. United States health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced on Monday he is removing all 17 sitting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with new members. Dwyer said it's necessary for the Australian government to take a proactive approach to improve vaccination rates. "We've got to counter this misinformation, which is far outweighing the good information that's available through social media," he said. Data from 2020 to 2024 shows a decline in the vaccination rate among children under the age of five, according to Australia's National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance. The majority of children in Australia are vaccinated, but the government and experts say the goal is to reach 95 per cent coverage to ensure strong community protection. In 2024, 91.6 per cent of one-year-olds were fully vaccinated, a drop from 94.8 per cent in 2020. Two-year-olds were less likely to be fully vaccinated, with 89.4 per cent in 2024, a 2.7 per cent drop from 2020. By age five, 92.7 per cent of children were vaccinated in 2024, compared to 94.9 per cent in 2020. Fully vaccinated coverage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continued to decrease in 2024 at all three age milestones. But the largest drop was recorded at 24 months of age, with coverage declining by 4.5 per cent since 2020. "Australia has high vaccination rates when you look globally, but our rates have fallen alarmingly," Dwyer said. "This requires a positive campaign that makes people feel comfortable and yes, makes them feel a little guilty if they haven't done the best by their child by vaccinating them." The national immunisation strategy aims to increase vaccination uptake across Australia over the next five years by reducing vaccine hesitancy and improving access. The plan outlines priority areas, including enhancing vaccine access in First Nations communities, strengthening the immunisation workforce, and building trust. It also lists priority groups with conditions that put them at a greater risk of contracting or experiencing severe outcomes from vaccine-preventable diseases. This includes the elderly, pregnant women and children. James Trauer, the head of epidemiological modelling at Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, told SBS News these communities, especially those who may not be eligible for certain vaccines, are the most vulnerable. "For some infectious diseases, you are really looking to rely on vaccination coverage to totally eliminate the disease or reduce its severity," he said. "If your vaccination coverage falls below a certain level, you get outbreaks." "For lots of infectious diseases, you get substantial immunity against infection through the vaccine, and you can totally control them and even reach elimination for many infectious diseases just by reaching high enough coverage," Trauer said. While 'herd immunity' cannot "totally protect" people from some viruses, such as COVID-19, he said others, like measles, can be "eliminated" from the population. Trauer said each vaccine has specific guidelines for the optimal age at which it should be given to a child. He said it's essential to consult a specialist about your options. "I would absolutely recommend that anyone in that situation go and see somebody with expertise in that area. "It is often possible and advisable to get some sort of catch-up schedule, particularly for the most important infectious diseases."
