A National Health Performance Authority report has revealed Maitland has the highest childhood immunisation rates in Australia.

The NHPA found 96% of Maitland children were immunised between 2011 to 2012, with a Hunter region average of 93% immunised.

Hunter Medicare Local CEO, Mark Foster says this achievement is could be partially due to the increased communication and organisational skills between health services in the area.

However, the results aren’t a sign health workers can rest on their laurels.

“There’s still 600 children aged 5 who aren’t fully immunised in our region and among those there’s 35 of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander background.

“So there’s clearly still a need to continue the work to try and make sure we can target as many of those kids [as possible],” Mr Foster said.