Vaccination rates among Australian teenagers are falling. Here’s how we can get back on track

Australia has an effective youth vaccination program, routinely achieving high vaccination coverage among teenagers.

However, latest data shows the number of Australian teenagers receiving vaccines recommended for their age group has fallen over three years during the Covid pandemic.

So how much has the number of vaccinations among youthful people decreased and why is this happening? How can we get back on track?

The vaccines teens need – and why they need them

The National Vaccination Program is providing a series of free vaccinations for Australian teenagers. These are:

• booster vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa), usually offered at age 7
• human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, usually also offered at age 7
• ACWY meningococcal vaccine offered at age 10.

These vaccines are mainly provided through school vaccination programs and health services such as GP surgeries.

They protect teenagers themselves from diseases, but also assist limit the spread of these diseases in society.

For example, in 2024 it was recorded: sharp increase in whooping cough cases of whooping cough throughout the country. Although adolescents won’t necessarily get whooping cough, they can spread the disease. Therefore, the dTpa vaccine helps protect a vulnerable population, including youthful children.

HPV is the leading cause of genital warts and cervical cancer. Giving the HPV vaccine to youthful adolescents before they are exposed to the virus through sexual activity provides the best protection against HPV infection. cervical cancer.

And older teenagers and youthful adults are among the highest risk groups meningococcal diseasewhich can be fatal. They are also likely to carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat and spread it to other people.

A modest but worrying decline

Latest Annual vaccination coverage report from the National Center for Immunization Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) shows a decline in vaccination coverage among teenagers in 2022–2023, while previous report shows a decline in 2021–2022.

For example, the percentage of teenagers who received their youthful dose dTpa in the year they turned 15 decreased from 87.3% in 2021, 86.9% in 2022 and 85.5% in 2023.

Meanwhile, the proportion of people who received one dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine before the age of 17 has fallen from 76.1% in 2021to 75.9% in 2022 and 72.8% in 2023.

Vaccination rates among Indigenous teenagers have similarly declined. For example, the proportion of Indigenous adolescents who received one dose of the ACWY meningococcal vaccine before age 17 decreased from 66.7% in 2021 Down 65.6% in 2022 to 62.3% in 2023.

In total, in 2023 approx every fourth 18-year-old have not received all three nationally recommended vaccines for youth.

These numbers show a decline in vaccination coverage among teenagers over three years. This happens after several years generally increasing the range before the Covid pandemic.

Although the decline was diminutive, the downward trend is alarming. It puts more teenagers – and members of the wider community – at risk of stern infectious diseases.

Why is the vaccination rate among teenagers decreasing?

There are probably many factors contributing to this.

While extended school closures and resulting disruptions to school vaccination programs during the height of the pandemic likely played a role, these events occurred almost exclusively in Victoria and New South Wales. Therefore, they cannot fully explain the continuing decline in vaccination coverage among youth across the country.

We do not have good published data on factors influencing vaccine acceptance among adolescents. But given that parents or guardians must complete consent form for their child to be vaccinated at school, we may be able to learn from some of the challenges associated with childhood vaccinations.

Teen trends are consistent with degenerating rates younger children who are fully vaccinated. In 2023, 92.8% of one-year-olds were fully vaccinated, down from 94.8% in 2020. The five-year-old vaccination rate in 2023 was 93.3%, also down from 94.8 % in 2020

A recent study on barriers childhood vaccinations in Australia indicates that a high percentage of parents who choose not to vaccinate youthful children have concerns about vaccine safety (48%) and effectiveness (40%). It is possible that the Covid-19 pandemic has made vaccine acceptance more tough.

Practical barriers to access may also hinder vaccination coverage of adolescents. These may include lack of knowledge among parents about vaccines or vaccination schedules, complicated processes for obtaining parental consent, absenteeism from schooland lack of awareness of immunization services outside school programs.

The NCIR report for 2023 showed low HPV prevalence among adolescents living in remote and socioeconomically disadvantaged locations. This suggests that logistics such as transportation may also play a role, especially for teenagers who are not vaccinated as part of the school program.

How can we improve the situation? What can parents do?

We need research to better understand the factors influencing vaccine uptake among adolescents. This could assist us develop and implement strategies to improve vaccination coverage in this age group.

For example, understanding factors influencing HPV vaccine uptake among indigenous youth and ensuring equitable access to targeted and culturally appropriate vaccinations Educational strategies for HPV vaccination significantly improved the level of vaccination in this group. HPV vaccination coverage among indigenous women aged 17 to 25 is currently higher than in the general population.

Parents can support their teens by talking to them about the importance of vaccinations, listening to their concerns, and answering any questions they have. Consent forms will usually include information about the vaccine and the disease it protects against.

If your child does not receive vaccinations at school or does not attend school, families can access free vaccines through the National Immunization Program from their GP, pharmacy, local authority or other health service.

Specialized vaccination services are also available in most states and territories. These services are intended for children and adolescents at high risk or for families who are concerned about vaccinating their children.

Teenagers are the next generation of parents, and their approach to vaccinations will impact their children’s future vaccination rates. This is another reason why we must effectively address any concerns or barriers this group faces around vaccination.