Australian medical experts have expressed concern that a change in child vaccination advice in the US, which they state is not based on science, could reverse decades of public health progress. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for American children to be vaccinated against fewer diseases, suggesting a link to autism without evidence. This would reduce the recommended immunisations for children to 11, down from 18 at the end of 2024.
Professor Julie Leask, a social scientist at the University of Sydney, said that "Anything Trump says filters through to Australia," affecting a minority of people and causing them to question vaccine safety. Health professionals in Australia are reportedly observing the impact of this rhetoric, with nurses hearing more parental concerns about vaccination.
Figures from the Australian immunisation register indicate that full childhood vaccination rates peaked between 2020 and 2021. The coverage rate for all children at five years old is currently 92.6%, falling short of the 95% target. Lucy Clynes, chief executive of Hepatitis Australia, noted a 3% decrease in one-year-olds fully immunised for hepatitis B in Australia, a trend observed since around 2020.
Hepatitis B is a viral liver infection, with over 230,000 Australians living with chronic infection. Vaccination offers significant protection, with infants in Australia recommended to receive a course of four vaccines. The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) has issued a statement affirming the safety and effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, encouraging parents with questions to consult healthcare professionals.