The Australian government plans to widen access to childhood vaccines in pharmacies from January 2027, in response to declining immunisation rates and a surge in vaccine-preventable diseases, introducing targeted reminders and easier access for under-fives where legislation permits.
Australia is set to widen access to childhood vaccines in pharmacies from January 2027, as the federal government moves to respond to falling immunisation rates and growing concerns about delayed doses. According to the measures announced in this year’s budget, families will also receive SMS reminders and targeted messages when vaccinations are due, in an effort to lift coverage and make it easier to stay on schedule. The change would extend pharmacy vaccination beyond children aged five and over, provided state and territory laws allow it, and would make more under-fives eligible to receive routine vaccines closer to home.
The policy comes after a steady decline in childhood vaccination since 2020. Data cited by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show coverage for one-year-olds falling from 94.9% in 2020 to 92.1% in 2024, while rates for two-year-olds slipped from 92.6% to 90.4% and coverage for five-year-olds dropped from 95.1% to 93.6%. The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance says the downward trend has continued through 2025, with fewer children vaccinated within the recommended age windows and almost two in five receiving their first measles-mumps-rubella shot late.
Health experts warn the timing is particularly concerning because vaccine-preventable diseases are re-emerging. The Conversation article by Nicholas Wood and Lucy Deng says Australia has already recorded more than 100 measles cases this year and is experiencing its worst diphtheria outbreak in decades, with more than 425 cases in 2026, most of them in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It also notes that polio has been detected in sewage in Western Australia, underlining the need to keep routine vaccinations up to date.
Researchers and clinicians point to several reasons for the decline, including vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, concerns about safety, cost, convenience and shortages of doctors, nurses and Aboriginal health workers, particularly outside major cities. A 2025 national survey found that more than half of parents of partially vaccinated children said vaccines were unsafe and did not trust information from healthcare providers. A separate analysis found a rise between 2017 and 2023 in incorrect beliefs such as the idea that vaccine ingredients are unsafe, vaccines cause autism or children receive too many vaccines. Against that backdrop, the expansion of pharmacy access and reminder systems is intended to remove practical barriers, improve timeliness and shore up community protection.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
