Australia Faces Declining Vaccination Rates: GPs Called to Take Action
09 Dec 2025
Australia is experiencing a notable decline in vaccination coverage, prompting health experts to call on general practitioners (GPs) to take a leading role in addressing the issue. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is urging doctors to routinely review each patient’s vaccination record as part of standard care.
During a November meeting, ATAGI examined the drop in immunisation rates following the COVID-19 pandemic, the record-breaking influenza season of 2025, and strategies for GPs to increase vaccine uptake. The group highlighted the importance of timely vaccinations for children and mothers, noting that:
- Adults born from 1966 onwards who have received fewer than two Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) doses recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register are now eligible for a funded catch-up program.
- Infants over six months travelling internationally can access an additional funded MMR dose.
ATAGI warned that declining immunisation rates are contributing to an elevated risk of measles outbreaks, the highest pertussis incidence since the pandemic, and a growing number of under-vaccinated Australians, with children being particularly vulnerable.
The 2025 influenza season also set a record, with more than 470,000 cases reported. ATAGI anticipates that the introduction of the intranasal FluMist vaccine in 2026 will help increase coverage, particularly among younger Australians.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) report, From Coverage to Concern, described the nation as being at a “critical point in its immunisation journey” and stressed the pivotal role of GPs. The report recommends a national, coordinated approach to improve data collection, accelerate vaccine approvals, fund team-based preventive care, and enhance community engagement.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen emphasised the unique influence of GPs:
“GPs are trusted in their communities and play a key role in encouraging vaccination.”
Dr Michael Tam of the RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care highlighted that most routine vaccinations in Australia, including those during pandemics, are administered through GP clinics. He also stressed the importance of practice nurses, who manage vaccination logistics, stock monitoring, recalls, and patient care—but often operate without dedicated funding beyond the cost of vaccines themselves.
Socioeconomic challenges also affect immunisation rates. Dr Tam noted that rising poverty and income inequality can create significant barriers to accessing healthcare, which in some cases are more impactful than vaccine hesitancy. Continuity of care with a regular GP can help overcome these obstacles, allowing preventive services like vaccination to be integrated into routine visits.
In a positive development for domestic vaccine supply, Australia’s first cell-based vaccine manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere has opened in Victoria. The plant is scheduled to start producing influenza vaccines in early 2026, followed by antivenoms and Q fever vaccines later in the year, strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to future immunisation needs.
News Source: RACGP
