This research study used Australian Flutracking  data to determine how successful government programs to fund influenza vaccination for children aged 6 months to five years were in improving self-reported seasonal influenza uptake.

It found that government-funded vaccines can lead to an almost five-fold increase in self-reported vaccine uptake of the targeted age group, as well as previously unreported flow-on effects to older children. This suggests that funded vaccines or young children may encourage caregivers to also vaccinate themselves and their older children.

Key points:

• In 2018, most Australian jurisdictions introduced free influenza vaccines for children younger than 5 years
• Self-reported vaccination rates for young children increased by 2.7–4.2-fold in jurisdictions with policies introducing funded vaccines in 2018
• Flow-on effects occurred in children aged 5–17 years, with vaccination rates increasing by 1.2–2.2-fold in this unfunded population
• The results highlight the importance of funding in increasing the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccines