Policy Context

Preventable health conditions are a key concern in paediatric and youth health, as they reflect the accessibility and effectiveness of early intervention, primary care, and public health measures such as vaccination. These hospitalisations can often be avoided through timely and adequate healthcare in community settings.

Based on data from 2022–23, around 1 in 17 hospitalisations in Australia were considered potentially preventable. This included acute, chronic, and vaccine-preventable conditions such as pneumonia, asthma, and pertussis. Rates were significantly higher in more socioeconomically disadvantaged and remote areas, suggesting disparities in access to preventative care.¹

In particular, vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as influenza, pneumococcal disease, and herpes zoster (shingles) contribute to excess hospitalisation rates, often as secondary diagnoses in patients with respiratory or circulatory illnesses. These cases are associated with longer hospital stays and worse outcomes, indicating an under-recognised burden that improved vaccination coverage could help mitigate.²