Plummeting vaccination rates may not be driven by parents deliberately opting out

The Herald reports just 77 per cent of six-month-olds are getting their vaccines on time.

That's down 4.5 percent since rates peaked in 2016.

Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner says vaccine hesitancy isn't changing - but difficulties for families to access care is.

The drop is most prevalent in Maori babies and babies living in impoverished situations.