General practice is the key to addressing vaccine hesitancy

The COVID-19 pandemic left many deep scars – mentally, physically and economically. But perhaps one of its most dangerous legacies is the erosion of trust in science. Scepticism towards governments and scientific authorities is nothing new, but it deepened significantly during the pandemic.

An “infodemic” broke out on social media, as false claims about the virus and vaccines spread like wildfire. We are now paying dearly for this, with immunisation coverage falling around the world. Vaccines are among humanity’s greatest achievements, having saved more than 150 million lives in the past half-century and enabling more children than ever before to celebrate their first birthday. Yet, progress has stalled.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 14.3 million children worldwide did not receive a single dose of any vaccine in 2024 – 1.4 million more than in 2019, which is the WHO’s baseline year for measuring progress. The WHO warns that misinformation, population growth, humanitarian crises and funding cuts are jeopardising progress and leaving millions of people at risk, as outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and meningitis rise globally.

Australia has one of the best health systems in the world, and we are fortunate not to face the kinds of financial challenges or conflicts many other countries endure. Yet even here, childhood immunisation rates are falling.

According to the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, full vaccination coverage for children has decreased each year since 2020. The most significant drop has occurred for one-year-old children, with coverage falling by 3.2% since 2020. The government must focus on turning the tide and restoring public trust in vaccinations.

GPs and their teams have long been central to Australia’s strong immunisation performance. The decline in coverage since the pandemic – driven by vaccine hesitancy – underscores just how vital their role remains. General practices deliver the majority of vaccines in Australia each year as part of the comprehensive, patient-centred care Australians have trusted GPs to provide for generations.

The AMA recently released a new position statement on immunisation, reaffirming its support for GPs to lead vaccine delivery. One of the defining features of being a GP is listening with a compassionate ear. It is essential that patients feel safe and comfortable discussing their concerns about vaccines.

Recent years have seen a significant push to expand immunisation availability, including through community pharmacies. These policies are politically popular, as they create the impression that vaccines are now more accessible. However, we are yet to see evidence that this is improving immunisation rates. That is because these approaches ignore one of the core elements of Australia’s immunisation strategy: the patient–doctor relationship.

Troublingly, the role of general practice barely even rated a mention in the recently released National Immunisation Strategy 2025–30.

The confidentiality of a GP’s consultation room is sacrosanct. If someone is concerned about vaccines, let alone personal health issues, they should feel safe discussing these matters without judgement – which is something very difficult to achieve in a retail setting, within earshot of other customers.

And it is not just about addressing hesitancy or misinformation – GPs also help patients and their families stay up to date with their immunisations. It can be challenging to keep track of what vaccines you or your children need, and when. That is what your GP is for: staying across your medical history and ensuring you receive the best possible advice when you need it most. Particularly for children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with other medical conditions, it’s important that vaccinations are delivered as part of a comprehensive health plan.

General practices remain the best equipped to provide medically supervised, best-practice immunisation services — delivered by a team of medical practitioners and qualified practice nurses. If we are serious about reversing the decline in immunisation rates, we must invest in what works: trusted relationships, clinical expertise and continuity of care. That means recognising and resourcing general practice as the cornerstone of Australia’s vaccine strategy.