The Australian Medical Association warns that misinformation and anti-science sentiment are driving a decline in vaccination rates across child, adolescent, and adult programs, including seasonal flu vaccines.

The AMA stresses that misinformation erodes public trust and endangers lives, noting Australia's long history of preventing deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases is under threat by falling vaccination coverage.

Immunisation coverage remains below the government's 95% herd immunity target: about 90% for two-year-olds, roughly 92% for one-year-olds, and just over 93% for five-year-olds.

Since 1932, vaccination has dramatically reduced deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases in Australia by about 99%, highlighting the stakes of declining coverage.

General Practitioners are urged to lead rebuilding efforts by engaging in direct conversations with patients and communities to boost trust and uptake.

A policy analysis titled From coverage to concern frames the decline in immunisation as a public health concern with implications for emergency department capacity.

AMA warns that lower vaccination rates strain hospitals and raise the risk of re-emergence of diseases like measles, with almost 10% of preventable admissions tied to vaccine-preventable illnesses.

AMA president emphasizes that reduced vaccination rates threaten public health and hospital systems already operating near or at capacity.