Study identifies strategies to improve childhood vaccination uptake
26 Sep 2025
The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, sets out practical strategies that could be adopted in primary care as part of a broader action plan. These include:
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making it easier for parents to book GP appointments for immunisation consultations, including with new patients
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extending vaccination clinic hours to evenings and weekends
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offering drop-in vaccination appointments
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providing funding for nurse-led vaccination clinics in general practice
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supporting dedicated time for healthcare providers to have vaccination discussions with families
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including training on supportive vaccination conversations in professional development programs, such as the RACGP’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program.
The researchers also recommended increasing the availability of bulk-billed vaccination appointments and expanding delivery across more settings, including general practice, community clinics, pharmacies and community events.
These recommendations build on findings from a 2024 national survey of parents, which identified key barriers such as out-of-pocket costs, limited appointment times, lack of opportunities to discuss vaccines with providers, and declining trust.
Lead author Dr Kasia Bolsewicz, a Social Science Research Fellow at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), said urgent coordinated action was needed.
“Childhood vaccination rates have declined each year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest analysis from NCIRS confirms that coverage has remained below the national target of 95% across all three standard age milestones,” she said.
“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.”
However, some experts have cautioned that efforts to expand access must not come at the expense of the GP–patient relationship.
Dr Michael Tam, a member of the Expert Committee – Quality Care, told newsGP that while the study makes practical recommendations, broader access should not undermine the role of general practice in childhood health.
“Timely access to vaccination is clearly important, but it’s also important that any new measures don’t disrupt the relationship mothers and babies have with their regular GP,” he said.
Dr Tam noted challenges with extending vaccination hours, such as high demand in after-hours periods and increased costs for practices. He suggested that locally driven programs, developed with input from local GPs, could be a practical way to reach children who are missing out.
The study concludes that both system-level and community-based strategies are needed to improve childhood vaccination uptake, while maintaining trust and continuity of care in general practice.
Source: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, reported by newsGP
