Indicator used
The first table provides annualised national immunisation coverage rates for one, two and five year olds. Rates are calculated based on the preceding rolling four quarters. Data is sourced from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) administered by the Commonwealth Department of Human Services. 2019 coverage rates include data to the end of the December 2019 assessment quarter. The data shows the proportion of children fully immunised at one, two and five years of age according to the National Immunisation Program Schedule.
The second table shows vaccination coverage with three doses of human papillomavirus vaccine for adolescents turning 15 years of age by year. The HPV data has been sourced from historical reports published on the the National HPV Vaccination Program Register (HPV Register) website http://www.hpvregister.org.au/ .
The HPV Register ceased to operate on December 31 2018, with historical HPV vaccination records migrated to the AIR. From January 2019 all HPV vaccinations are reported directly to the AIR.
Caveat
Data has been drawn from a national indicator or dataset and is an approximation of the UN SDG Indicator. We will work to develop an Australian dataset that meets the globally agreed methodology for this UN SDG Indicator.
Indicator description
Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme
Methodology
National Immunisation Coverage Rates
* From quarter ending 31 December 2013, pneumococcal (dose 3) was included in the definition of fully immunised for the 12 to less than 15 months cohort.
** From quarter ending 31 December 2014, meningococcal C (given at 12 months), and dose 2 measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and dose 1 varicella (given as MMRV at 18 months) were included in the definition of fully immunised for the 24 to 27 month cohort.
*** From quarter ending 31 March 2017, DTP dose 4 (given at 18 months) was included in the definition for fully immunised for 24 to less than 27 months.
**** From quarter ending 31 December 2017, dose 2 measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) was removed from the definition of fully immunised for the 60 to 63 month cohort.
The inclusion of these immunisations to the definition of ‘fully immunised’ caused a drop in the coverage rates. The more antigens included in the assessment, the higher the likelihood of reduced coverage rates. This usually resolves over time as the changes become more routine.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunisation Coverage Rates
*Coverage data for males is only available from 2013 when males became eligible to receive the HPV vaccine routinely at age 12-13 years, with a catch up program for males aged 14-15 years delivered in 2013 and 2014.