Of these same parents, around 55 per cent lack trust in vaccines, the National Vaccination Insights project by the National Centre of Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) said.
The survey of 2012 parents of children under the age of five found close to a third of all parents felt distressed about vaccinating their children, whether they had no vaccines, were partially vaccinated, or were fully up to date with their immunisations.
The alarming new findings come amid declining childhood vaccination rates, which have been falling each year since the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, six per cent of all parents and 40 per cent of parents who have partially vaccinated their children do not believe vaccination protects others, whilst 5.3 per cent of all parents don’t think they work.
The NCIRS warned vaccine attitudes from overseas were having a greater impact on parents’ perceptions of immunisation.
“It also highlighted the potential role of international vaccine commentary in shaping parental attitudes in Australia,” it said.
Around five per cent of all parents will not give their children all of the recommended vaccines, with 42 per cent of parents who have partially vaccinated their children also saying they would halt immunisations.
“The study’s authors emphasise the importance of strengthening trust, supporting healthcare providers to address concerns, and ensuring accessible, responsive vaccination services,” it said.
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