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According to the National Vaccination Insights project by the National Centre of Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), about 55 percent of parents express a lack of confidence in vaccines.
A survey involving 2,012 parents with children under five revealed that nearly one-third experience anxiety over vaccinating their kids, whether their children are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or fully up-to-date with their shots.
These concerning insights emerge against a backdrop of steadily decreasing childhood vaccination rates, a trend that has persisted annually since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interestingly, while six percent of parents overall—and a notable 40 percent of those with partially vaccinated children—doubt the communal protective benefits of vaccines, 5.3 percent remain skeptical about their efficacy altogether.
The NCIRS has highlighted the growing influence of international vaccine skepticism on parental attitudes towards immunization.
“It also highlighted the potential role of international vaccine commentary in shaping parental attitudes in Australia,” it said.
Around five per cent of all parents will not give their children all of the recommended vaccines, with 42 per cent of parents who have partially vaccinated their children also saying they would halt immunisations.
“The study’s authors emphasise the importance of strengthening trust, supporting healthcare providers to address concerns, and ensuring accessible, responsive vaccination services,” it said.
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