Melbourne’s inner suburbs the worst for anti-vaccination rates

Inner-Melbourne parents are still shunning vaccines in alarming numbers, as new data reveals the CBD and surrounding suburbs have the lowest child immunisation rates.

Inner-Melbourne parents are still shunning vaccines in alarming numbers, as new data reveals the CBD and surrounding suburbs have the lowest child immunisation rates.

Overall, 95.4 per cent of Victorian children are fully vaccinated by the age of five, meeting the state government’s target of 95 per cent herd immunity.

But the inner council areas of Melbourne (at 86 per cent), Yarra (91.5) and Port Phillip (91.94) lag ­behind. Stonnington Council — which includes the wealthy inner suburbs of Toorak, ­Malvern and South Yarra — was also below target at 92.4 per cent.

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Mount Alexander Shire Council, which takes in Castlemaine and surrounding towns, was one of the worst regional areas with just 92.86 per cent of children immunised.

Acting Premier Tim Pallas said the government would continue to target dodgy doctors who peddled misinformation and flouted the rules. Picture: AAP

Whittlesea Council’s 97.01 per cent vaccination level and Mitchell Shire Council in ­central Victoria at 98.04 per cent were among the state’s top performers.

Overall, 55 council areas hit or exceeded the critical 95 per cent vaccination benchmark and 24 slipped below it.

The figures are a big boost from six years ago when there were 54 under-vaccinated ­regions. Unless families have an approved exemption, all children must be up to date with vaccinations to attend early childhood and care services, under Victorian law.

Acting Health Minister Luke Donnellan. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The Andrews Government strengthened its “no jab, no play” laws last August to only allow Immunisation History Statements from the Australian Immunisation Register as proof, after it was revealed a small band of rogue doctors were falsely providing parents with immunisation certificates.

Acting Premier Tim Pallas said the government would continue to target dodgy doctors who peddled misinformation and flouted the rules.

He called on all parents to keep their children up to date with vaccinations.

“We make no apologies for our tough immunisation laws. The science is crystal clear, vaccinations save lives. Vaccinations don’t just keep you and your family healthy, they protect other children in the community too,” he said.

Acting Health Minister Luke Donnellan said while most did the right thing, there were still people who ignored facts and touted misinformation, and the government would crack down on them.

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