Overall, Health’s approach to immunisation is effective. Since 2013, there has been a small but consistent upward trend of 1.15% in the number of WA children immunised and at June 2016 was above the 90% national target for children 0-5 years.

Health has an effective and focused approach to improving areas of low immunisation. However, some children are at higher risk of falling through the gaps in service provision. Around 1.5% of children are not immunised because their parents consciously object. Included in the remaining 7%, are children who are not immunised because they are harder to identify and target. Health’s 2016-20 WA Immunisation Strategy appropriately focuses on some at risk children, such as new migrants and those in state care, but not the homeless and those whose births are not registered.

Aboriginal children, particularly infants and toddlers, remain below the 90% national immunisation target. Lack of access to services is not the issue as nearly half the children not immunised live in the metropolitan area. Health has made several concerted efforts to improve rates and these have been successful but ongoing efforts are required to ensure rates do not fall once the programs finish.