Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2024 – Summary
Key findings on vaccination coverage in children, adolescents and adults in Australia
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has released its Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2024, outlining current vaccination trends across children, adolescents and adults in Australia. The report highlights continued declines in routine immunisation since the COVID-19 pandemic, along with ongoing delays in on-time vaccination.
Key Findings – General Population
- Childhood vaccination coverage has declined across all major age milestones, with the largest drop at 12 months of age.
- On-time vaccination remains below pre-pandemic levels, particularly for vaccines due at older ages. In 2024, one in three children received their first MMR dose late, and one in five received their second DTP dose late.
- Adolescent coverage has also fallen, with two in ten 15-year-olds missing at least one HPV dose and three in ten 17-year-olds missing the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.
- Influenza vaccination coverage remains suboptimal, with less than one-third of eligible young children and just under two-thirds of adults aged 65+ vaccinated in 2024.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Coverage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children decreased at all milestones, with on-time vaccination lower than pre-pandemic levels.
- Half of children received their first MMR dose late in 2024, and one in four received the second DTP dose late.
- Adolescent vaccination declines were more pronounced, with HPV coverage falling below 80% for girls and 70% for boys.
- Uptake of 13vPCV in adults continues to improve, though further gains are needed, particularly in those aged 50–69 years.
- Influenza vaccination coverage decreased across all age groups in 2024, despite universal NIP funding.
Conclusion
The report underscores the need to improve catch-up vaccination efforts, address access barriers, and strengthen equity across all communities. Timely vaccination remains essential to preventing serious disease and maintaining high levels of population protection.
The full NCIRS Annual Immunisation Coverage Report 2024 is available on the NCIRS website.