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More than 80-thousand children aged five and under aren't up to date with their vaccinations. It's a trend that's worsened every year since 2020. Experts worry the low rates will lead to more severe illness and deaths from preventable diseases.

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00:02Naomi Steenson only has a few keepsakes of her son.
00:06So this is Blake's first eye opening in ICU.
00:09They brought him out of his induced coma and I was able to get my first cuddle.
00:13Baby Blake died from whooping cough in 1997.
00:17Too young to be immunised and before there was a vaccine for pregnant women.
00:21If we're all immunised, hopefully it stops others from getting it.
00:26But that message isn't getting through.
00:28A new analysis of government data shows childhood vaccination coverage is declining.
00:34Vaccine coverage is falling and it's been falling year on year now since 2020.
00:40While 13-year-old Angus had his jabs this week.
00:44One, two, three.
00:46For children five and under, 80,000 weren't up to date with their vaccinations in 2025.
00:52We will absolutely see more deaths from vaccine preventable diseases if we continue to see the decline in the take
01:01up of vaccines.
01:02The reasons for the drop in childhood vaccinations are varied and include misinformation and access and affordability issues.
01:10Attitudes to vaccination also took a hit during the COVID pandemic and public health experts say something needs to change
01:17to reverse the trend.
01:19It is time for us to have a look at the research and see whether in the future different campaigns
01:25might be required.
01:26For Naomi Steenson, the message is simple.
01:29A little bit of discomfort for a child certainly beats living six weeks in intensive care and having to turn
01:35your child's life support off.
01:37A mother determined to honour her son's legacy.
01:40be.
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