An audit of childhood vaccination records has shown that the number of one-year-olds listed as overdue for their jabs was incorrect - and that more than a third of these youngsters were in fact fully immunised.
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While the government now faces the task of improving record keeping at the Australian Immunisation Register, the good news is that NSW vaccination rates for one-year-olds have actually passed the goal 95 per cent herd immunity figure to a reach a record 96.25 per cent.
In the Murrumbidgee region, the rate of full immunisation is even higher, with the December 2018 figures at 97 per cent.
The AIR considers a child to be fully vaccinated at 12 months of age if they have had all the required shots that are due at six weeks, four months and six months of age.
As part of the study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health this month, the vaccination records of more than 400 one-year-olds in NSW were audited, with 143 incorrectly stating that immunisations were overdue.
Lead researcher Charlee Law said the surprise findings are great news and will help NSW Health to better target those children slipping through the vaccination net.
"Vaccination rates in NSW have been steadily climbing thanks to record investment in immunisation programs and these results confirm everyone's hard work," Ms Law said.
"The findings mean the true immunisation coverage for one-year-olds is 2.1 per cent, above what was previously thought and also above the national average of 94 per cent.
"While this is fantastic news for the community, what the current national measles issue shows us is that parents can never be complacent when it comes to vaccination."
NSW Health's director of communicable diseases Vicky Sheppeard said the findings would help federal agencies to identify ways to further improve the AIR.
"Australia has an internationally recognised immunisation program, so any findings that can improve information recording and service delivery is a bonus," Dr Sheppeard said.
New NSW Government laws came in on January 1, 2018, preventing parents who object to vaccination from enrolling their children in preschools and early childhood centres.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the these findings showed the legislative changes implemented by the NSW Government and the investment into immunisation programs was "paying dividends".
