PARENTS in some of WA’s worst “hotspots” for low vaccination rates are ignoring pleas to have their kids protected against deadly diseases, as the latest data shows pockets of declining coverage.

The Federal Government’s “Get the Facts” campaign, designed to target suburbs with low immunisation rates, has had little or no effect on some areas identified as harbouring vaccine “hesitant” and “reluctant” parents.

The latest coverage data showed Fremantle, Mundaring, Cottesloe, South Perth and Margaret River were among hotspots with sliding vaccination rates for kids under five years old.

Mundaring was among the lowest for each of the three age groups, recording 89.08 per cent coverage for children aged 12-15 months, 84.51 per cent for those aged 24-27 months and 89.46 per cent for those aged 60-63 months.

Manjimup has the lowest overall rate for any age group, with just 83.9 per cent coverage for children aged 24-27 months.

The Federal Government’s target is 95 per cent coverage across the board. The $7.5 million campaign was launched a year ago to address low vaccination coverage nationwide.

Rather than trying to convert ardent anti-vaxxers, the campaign was aimed at parents who were “sitting on the fence” and would benefit from science-based information.

Meningitis Centre Australia spokeswoman Lisa D’Cruz said it was “startling” immunisation rates for many WA areas had fallen well below 90 per cent for children aged two to five years.

“There’s obviously not enough conversation being had between the GP and parent about the importance of keeping up with the vaccination program after 12 months of age for children,” Ms D’Cruz said. “A child under five years of age still has a very immature immune system and is at risk of contracting hideous diseases like meningococcal, whooping cough, measles and mumps if they are not properly vaccinated.”

A Federal Department of Health spokesman said while there had been pockets of lower coverage in some WA areas, the Statewide immunisation rate had increased over the past four years.

She said 92.51 per cent of WA five-year-olds were fully vaccinated as of March 2018, up from 90.67 per cent in 2014. WA kids aged 12 months had 93.56 per cent coverage as of March 2018, up from 90 per cent in 2014.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook said the Government was working on a number of initiatives to boost rates.