Forum report - strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children

A range of practical solutions to address plateauing coverage and emerging inequities in uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in 5–11 year old children are available in a summary report released today. 

The report summarises the reflections from an online forum convened by the Collaboration on Social Science and Immunisation (COSSI) and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), and supported by the Australian Government Department of Health. The forum, titled ‘Increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children aged 5–11 years: behavioural insights from the field’, was held on 3 March 2022. 

Vaccinating children against COVID-19 has direct benefits, particularly for those at risk of severe disease. Vaccination also has indirect benefits, such as reducing disruption to schooling and contributing to a sense of safety for some parents.

The forum aimed to identify the drivers of COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5–11 years and to discuss strategies for increasing coverage. It brought together federal, state and territory governments, representatives from key communities, providers and social scientists. 

The intention of the forum was to encourage an ongoing conversation with a common purpose, which will continue in follow-up discussions with a broader range of groups. 

Forum participants and readers of this report are encouraged to take ideas detailed in this report and continue to shape and refine their strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage among children. 

Read the summary report here

Media: 
NCIRS | 0429 350 279 | SCHN-NCIRSMedia@health.nsw.gov.au