PrioritisingAboriginal voices to improve immunisation

Katrina Clark 26th April 2019

Fully Immunised at 12 months –

by jurisdiction and indigenous status, 2018

Cohort born: 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017

Source: Australian Immunisation Register, data as at 29 February 2019Page 2

Page 3

Fully Immunised at 24 months –

by jurisdiction and indigenous status, 2018

Cohort born: 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016

Source: Australian Immunisation Register, data as at 29 February 2019

Page 4

Fully Immunised at 60 months –

by jurisdiction and indigenous status, 2018

Cohort born: 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2013

Source: Australian Immunisation Register, data as at 29 February 2019

Victoria’s PHN’s Jurisdictions fully

Immunised

Source: Australian Immunisation Register, data as at 29 February 2019 Page 5

Primary Health Network

12 month FI 24 month FI 60 month FI

Aboriginalnon-

AboriginalAboriginal

non-

AboriginalAboriginal

non-

Aboriginal

Eastern Melbourne 94.8 94.6 89.5 90.8 94.9 94.8

Gippsland 87.2 95 90.1 92.9 97.2 96.6

Murray 94.0 94.2 90.2 92.0 97.4 96.2

North Western Melbourne 89.5 94.3 91.4 89.6 98.1 94.1

South Eastern Melbourne 94.8 94.3 90.5 90.7 96.3 94.5

Western Victoria 96.7 95.9 95.7 93.8 97.9 96.8

Where are the key gaps in immunisation?

• Hepatitis B‒ 10 x higher in children <5yrs

‒ 8 x higher in people aged 15-<25yrs

‒ 3x higher in people aged 25-<49yrs

• Hib disease‒ 10 x higher in children <5yrs

• Influenza‒ significantly higher hospitalisations and

deaths across all ages

• Meningococcal B‒ 11 x higher in children <10yrs

• Vaccination timeliness‒ 40% with delayed receipt of 3rd dose of DTPa and 2nd dose of MMR

Source: NCIRS Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Vaccination Coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, Australia, 2011–2015

Strategies addressing the Gaps

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Access to appropriate services is ESSENTIAL

Future Goals

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• Place more value in our Aboriginal Health Workers

• Embed cultural safety within the workforce

• Increase community-driven, tailored and sensitive programs that

meets community needs and priorities

• Value and incorporate cultural knowledge into health programs

Driving success with strategies that work:

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• Establishing ongoing respectful relationships

through engagement with communities and families

• Developing Aboriginal Employment opportunities

• Making space for Aboriginal ways

• Avoiding tokenism and making a stand against

racism

• Giving Aboriginal people a voice

Thank you