The Government is being urged to pay family doctors more to carry out vaccinations if it wants to lift childhood immunisation rates substantially.
In a report issued on Monday by the Immunisation Advisory Centre, childhood rates were described as mediocre and a subsidy paid to practices for the work fails to cover costs.
The report also said funding that appears inadequate may be linked to a "surprisingly low" commitment by doctors and nurses to take opportunities to vaccinate.
Doctors say they will need extra funding if childhood vaccination is to reach target levels.
The Ministry of Health says other funding is available to GPs and it's not clear yet whether there's a shortfall.
