Falling immunisation rates, fuelled by misinformation, has sparked a national campaign calling on Australians to speak with their doctor about vaccinations.
The ‘Have the Jab Chat’ campaign, launched by the Australian Medical Association, comes as the country’s vaccination rates have declined since the COVID pandemic.
Coverage for key childhood vaccines — including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and polio — has fallen below the 95 per cent level needed for strong community protection.
Sign up to The Nightly’s newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.
AMA president Danielle McMullen said the campaign was responding to growing confusion about where Australians are getting their health information from.
Australian Medical Association President Dr Danielle McMullen. Credit: AMA NSW/Supplied
“When it comes to vaccination, Australians deserve advice that is qualified, personalised and confidential — they deserve a doctor,” she said.
“Misinformation spreads faster than facts online, and increasingly sophisticated content — including deepfakes — can make unreliable information sound credible.
“That creates real confusion for people who are genuinely trying to make the right decision about their health.”
Dr McMullen said vaccines are reaching Australians who are already willing to be vaccinated but the decline was coming from those who were delaying or questioning jabs as they try to make sense of conflicting information online.
She said GPs play a critical role in improving vaccination rates through trusted relationships and continuity of care.
“We know many Australians are turning to AI tools and online searches for health advice,” she said.
“But those tools can’t look at your medical history, understand your personal risks, or give you the context you deserve — and they’re not always accurate or validated.
“This campaign is designed to encourage and support Australians, who feel unsure or overwhelmed, to access advice they can trust.
“Doctors bring more than a decade of medical training, an understanding of a patient’s health history, and the clinical judgement needed to assess individual risk and vaccine eligibility — particularly for people with underlying conditions or higher risk factors.”
The campaign comes as doctors have called on Australians to get vaccinated against the flu ahead of the colder months.
A needle-free flu vaccine for children aged from two to under 12 was rolled out last week while influenza vaccines will become free for West Australians from the start of May.
Pensioners aged 75 and over will also soon be able to be vaccinated against the potentially deadly RSV for free.
