Child Vaccination SMS Reminders Set for National Rollout in 2027
13 Aug 2026
New SMS system to support timely vaccination
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) has confirmed that the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), managed by Services Australia, will send the new reminders.
The messages will target parents and carers of children under five who are due for vaccines under the National Immunisation Program. They will operate alongside existing reminder letters sent by post.
The Government first announced the plan in the 2026–27 Federal Budget.
GP-led trial showed positive results
The national programme follows research from The Kids Research Institute Australia, although the Government says its SMS initiative is separate from that study.
The AuTOMATIC trial tested vaccination reminders through 20 general practices between 2021 and 2024. More than 20,000 text messages were sent using SmartVax.
The trial found that SMS reminders increased on-time vaccination by an estimated 6% compared with sending no reminder.
For some later childhood vaccinations, the improvement was reported to be as high as 10 percentage points.
Researchers highlight the role of GPs
Professor Tom Snelling, who was involved in the research, welcomed the Government's investment in SMS reminders.
He said the GP-led approach was an important part of the trial's success because parents often view their GP as a trusted source of vaccination information.
However, the study did not compare GP-sent messages with government-sent messages. It also did not assess whether the intervention increased overall vaccination coverage.
Professor Snelling said monitoring the new government-led system will therefore be important to determine whether it achieves similar results.
Childhood vaccination coverage remains a concern
Recent data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has highlighted continuing falls in childhood and adolescent vaccination coverage.
The report found that children are more likely to receive vaccines late as they get older. Around two in five children were reported to receive their first measles-mumps-rubella vaccine late, while around one in five missed the recommended timing for their second dose of a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccine.
Researchers said even a modest improvement in timely vaccination could help reduce the spread of diseases such as measles.
More details to come
The Government has not yet confirmed the wording or style of the SMS messages. DoHDA said research findings, including the AuTOMATIC trial, may help guide the design.
DoHDA is working with Services Australia on the rollout, which was also discussed at an Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) meeting in June 2026.
The Kids Research Institute has estimated that a nationwide programme similar to its trial could help an additional 35,000 children receive their 18-month and four-year vaccinations on time.
Child Vaccination SMS Reminders Set for National Rollout in 2027
Sources: Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing; The Kids Research Institute Australia; National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS); ATAGI.