Achieving high immunisation rates amongst children in the Australian Capital Territory: a collaborative effort.

BACKGROUND: In September 2008 the ACT achieved the highest childhood coverage rates in Australia with rates of 93.5% (12-15-month age cohort)- 94.9% (24-27-month age cohort) and 90.58% (60-63-month age cohort). PURPOSE: To analyse the key contributing factors and policy initiatives that have likely to have led to high childhood immunisation rates in the ACT. METHODS: Data used in this report were sourced from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) held at Medicare Australia- General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) 'calculation' data held at ACT Division of General Practice and internal immunisation databases held at Health Protection Service. OUTCOMES: Although the reasons for the high coverage rates seen in children are multi factorial (including national and consumer factors)- key reasons locally in the ACT include: (a) the implementation of an ACT-wide immunisation strategy/ (b) proactive follow up of children overdue for immunisation/ (c) more sustainable provision of immunisation s