Ten Years of Immunisation in New Zealand 2015 to 2024

Immunisation is a highly effective public health intervention that protects New Zealanders, particularly children and the elderly, against vaccine-preventable diseases. Covering data from 2015 to 2024, the report establishes a foundation to track progress on immunisation across a range of measures that were not previously available, including vaccination coverage and timeliness in New Zealand.

Key messages

• The report provides greater insight into vaccination coverage and timeliness, supporting efforts to target resources and initiatives where they can have the greatest impact on health outcomes.
• The report finds that, during the period covered, previously high levels of childhood vaccination rates fell sharply, and this disproportionately impacted Māori and Pacific children. 
• It recommends focusing on restoring vaccination reach, improving the timeliness of immunisation, and ensuring services and initiatives target areas of greatest need.
• The report is focused on improving the depth and breadth of information to inform long-term planning, policy development, and service design. For the most up-to-date data on vaccination coverage, visit Health NZ’s immunisation data and statistics page. 
• Progress has been made on vaccination rates since 2024. For instance, since the end of the period covered in the report, the percentage of children who are up to date with their 24-month immunisation milestone has risen from 76.4% to 83.1%. This will be reflected in future immunisation reports, which will be produced annually.
• The Ministry of Health developed this report to support the Immunisation Oversight Board, which provides leadership and coordination across the immunisation system. More information about the board can be found at Immunisation governance.