Health experts warn falling coverage and rising outbreaks demand swift, coordinated action across Australia. And they have some solutions.
As vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles continue to wreak havoc around Australia, experts have called for coordinated action and offered practical strategies to help improve childhood vaccine uptake.
And the latest measles alert in Cairns, Queensland this week has prompted the Australian College of Nursing to weigh into the debate.
Queensland Health reported on Wednesday that there had been more confirmed cases of measles infection in people who spent time in the following public places while unknowingly infectious.
It said a total of 12 cases of measles had been identified by the Cairns and Hinterland Health Service since 1 September 2025.
NSW Health’s latest measles alert was on September 19, when it published the locations attended by a person who had recently returned from Indonesia and tested positive for measles. There is currently an active measles outbreak in Indonesia.
Similarly, SA Health also had a confirmed case in a returned traveller from Bali in August which prompted an alert.
WA Health issued a fresh alert on Thursday listing potential measles exposure sites.
NT Health’s last measles alert was issued in July, while Tasmania’s most recent measles alert was issued in April. ACT Health also issued a public health clinical alert in April.
Data from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (accessed 25 September) shows there have been 126 measles cases reported nationally so far this year – well over double the 57 recorded last year.
The ACN has called for nationally coordinated action from all governments and health authorities to lift Australia’s vaccination rates.
It says funding and required authorisation should be given to nurse immunisers to establish dedicated immunisation clinics with extended opening hours in community settings that are accessible to everyone, including at Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services and in public spaces like libraries and shopping malls.
“Measles is a highly contagious disease, but it can be controlled well by vaccination,” ACN Chief Nurse Frances Rice said.
“Vaccination rates have been falling nationally. In Queensland, they are below the national average.
“With school holidays almost upon us, Cairns may experience an influx of visitors, so the risk of transmission around the state is elevated.”
The national target for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage is 95% to achieve critical herd immunity against measles, but the latest figures show the national average is 91.38%.
New research from the National Vaccination Insights project published today in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, said out-of-pocket costs, limited appointment availability, lack of opportunities to discuss vaccination with providers and eroding trust are stopping some Australian parents and caregivers from vaccinating their children on time.
Lead author Dr Kasia Bolsewicz, Social Science research fellow at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), said that the declining childhood vaccination rates in Australia were extremely concerning and emphasised that urgent, coordinated action across policy, program, healthcare provider and community settings is required.
“Childhood vaccination rates have declined each year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
“The latest analysis from NCIRS confirms that coverage has remained below the national target of 95% across all three standard age milestones.
“Prioritising catch-up vaccinations for children who are overdue for their recommended doses is essential to protect them from potentially life-threatening, vaccine-preventable diseases.”
The new paper builds on a 2024 national survey of 2000 parents that identified key childhood vaccination barriers.
“Practical difficulties related to booking vaccination appointments and the costs associated with vaccinations were common reasons children fell behind on timely vaccination,” said NCIRS Social Science researcher Dr Maryke Steffens.
“Barriers related to beliefs about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines and mistrust in information about vaccines provided by healthcare professionals were also identified as critical to address.”
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These strategies, which align with the National Immunisation Strategy For Australia 2025–2030, were grouped into four priority actions.
- Improve access to vaccination, for example by increasing bulk billing of vaccination appointments; and delivering vaccines after work hours and in different settings (general practice, community clinics, pharmacies, community events).
- Support provider education and advocacy, for example by funding healthcare providers’ dedicated time for vaccination conversations; and embedding communication training in healthcare providers’ professional development.
- Support parent and caregiver knowledge and confidence, for example by engaging communities in designing and sharing of vaccination messages using trusted community advocates; and automating vaccination reminder systems to alert patients of upcoming vaccinations.
- Facilitate access to data, for example by changing the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 to enable better sharing of local coverage data with immunisation stakeholders (Primary Health Networks, healthcare providers, Public Health Units); funding stakeholder training on how to use these data; and supporting the ongoing collection and sharing of behavioural data to inform program planning.
“Because barriers to childhood vaccination are multi-faceted, no single intervention alone will solve this problem. We need coordinated, multi-sector action,” said Dr Steffens.
“These strategies are grounded in evidence and shaped by the voice of community members, healthcare professionals and policymakers – giving us confidence in their relevance and effectiveness,” said Dr Bolsewicz.
Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, CEO, Public Health Association of Australia, said reversing the decline in childhood vaccination coverage was a public health priority.
“The power and reach of social media, the challenges raised by covid and misinformation around immunisation coming out of the USA mean it has never been more important to boost access to and confidence in vaccines,” he said.
“This important paper paves a practical way for Australia to reverse a concerning trend. We expect that boosting vaccine uptake will be a priority for the Australian Centre for Disease Control when it is permanently established next year.
“It’s estimated that over 150 million lives worldwide have been saved by vaccination – but young Australian lives will be at stake if childhood immunisation rates continue to fall.”
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, September 2025
