Declining Vaccination Rates Spur Action
Amid a concerning decline in vaccination rates and increasing disease levels, the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s vaccine strategy. This call to action comes as record-high influenza rates and vaccine-preventable diseases circulate, demanding immediate attention from the Federal Government. ACN CEO, Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz, highlighted the urgency of addressing these issues to protect public health and save healthcare costs.
Stressing the importance of accessibility, Adjunct Professor Zeitz remarked, “We need to make it as easy as possible for people to take this critical step, for their own health and for others.” Vaccine accessibility and removing barriers are crucial components of ACN’s proposed strategy.
Introducing a Nurse Payment Administrator is a key proposal by ACN. This role would ensure that nurses, who administer more vaccines than any other healthcare professional, are compensated for their work in pharmacies, general practices, and Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
Need for Accessible Clinics
Childhood and adolescent vaccination rates have reached five-year lows, according to the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance. In 2025, only 90.5% of 12-month-olds were fully vaccinated, 88.4% at 24 months, and 92.5% at 60 months, reflecting a significant drop from 2020 figures.
ACN recommends establishing nurse-led clinics in community locations like libraries, youth centers, and childcare centers. This initiative aims to enhance vaccine accessibility and broaden immunization coverage to underserved groups.
Nurses, being the most trusted and widely dispersed healthcare professionals, are ideally positioned to deliver vaccines effectively across Australia. Adjunct Professor Zeitz noted that nurses are essential in maintaining Australia’s global leadership in vaccination.
To tackle access barriers, ACN proposes running vaccination clinics in senior-friendly locations such as men’s sheds and bowling clubs. This strategy is intended to boost vaccine coverage among the elderly population.
Nurses’ significant role in vaccine administration is often overlooked financially, especially within GP clinics, which remain central to vaccine delivery. ACN’s strategy seeks to support these efforts through proper funding mechanisms.
The Federal Government is anticipated to review ACN’s proposed strategy in upcoming health policy discussions, aiming to retain Australia’s status as a global leader in vaccination.
