A recent survey by the National Centre of Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has revealed that more than half of Australian parents who have only partially vaccinated their children harbour doubts about vaccine safety. Around 55 percent of these parents also reported lacking trust in vaccines.
The survey, which included 2,012 parents of children under five, found that nearly a third of all parents—whether unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or fully up to date—felt distressed about immunising their children.
These findings come amid a decline in childhood vaccination rates, which have fallen each year since the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis by NCIRS at the end of 2025 showed that vaccination coverage is at a 10-year low, below the 95 percent target across all three standard age milestones.
Low vaccine coverage is believed to have contributed to a record surge in whooping cough cases across Australia since 2024. According to Australian Government advice, children should receive several vaccines by age four, including protection against meningococcal disease, measles, and whooping cough.
The survey also found that six percent of all parents and 40 percent of parents who partially vaccinated their children do not believe vaccines protect others, while 5.3 percent of all parents do not believe vaccines work. NCIRS highlighted that international vaccine commentary is influencing parental attitudes in Australia, citing lower US vaccination rates and the recent prominence of vaccine skeptics like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Approximately five percent of all parents reported they will not administer all recommended vaccines, with 42 percent of partially vaccinated parents indicating they might stop immunisations altogether.
The NCIRS stressed that trust between parents and healthcare providers has been eroded. Nearly half of parents who have partially immunised their children reported not trusting the doctors or nurses administering vaccines. The study authors emphasised the importance of rebuilding trust, supporting healthcare providers in addressing concerns, and ensuring accessible and responsive vaccination services.
