A recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report showed that the Nepean Blue Mountains region exceeds all the national averages, with 94.2 per cent of one year olds, 91.3 per cent of two year olds and 94.7 per cent of five years olds fully immunised.

In five year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, the rate is even higher at 97.5 per cent, ranking the region second nationally.

Despite the good numbers, we are still falling just short of the government’s aspirational target set in 2014 for 95 per cent for all children fully immunised.

The area has had a steady increase in rates.

“These figures are the result of a significant effort across the region by many agencies including the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network, the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, local GPs and community health staff to improve childhood immunisation rates in the region,” Lizz Reay, NBMPHN CEO said, 

“We are all especially encouraged to be closing the gap on Aboriginal childhood immunsation. By the five year mark, we have significantly closed the gap on immunisation among the Aboriginal childhood community.

“Although the region is doing well, there are still areas where immunisation rates are potentially too low to prevent the outbreak of disease.”

Neighbouring district, the upper-Blue Mountains, has some of the lowest rates of fully immunised children in NSW, where only 75.8 per cent of two year olds and 81.4 per cent of five year olds are vaccinated.