This white paper examines the challenges and barriers to achieving higher rates of vaccination among Australian adults eligible for the National Immunisation Program (NIP), identifies priority areas for action and suggests evidence-based strategies to improve vaccine coverage rates.
Vaccines are one the greatest achievements of public health and have significantly reduced morbidity and mortality from a range of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Australia’s NIP is a cornerstone of the National Preventive Health Strategy.
Adult vaccination is relatively new to the NIP, and coverage rates are low compared with rates of childhood vaccination.