National Health Performance Authority data reveals 8.5 per cent of Brunswick five-year-olds are not properly immunised.

Other suburbs and councils with high rates are Darebin South (8.4 per cent), Essendon and the City of Melbourne, (8.3), Port Phillip (8.2) and Stonnington West and Yarra, (8.1).

Brunswick pharmacist Angelo Pricolo was surprised to learn Brunswick and Coburg top the list of metropolitan areas.

"I'm not surprised that Brunswick is in the category of having a higher proportion, but I am surprised it is that high," Mr Pricolo said.

"You'd hazard a guess to suggest Brunswick has a high percentage of people with alternative views."

Denzil Don Kindergarten director Margaret Benincasa said the rate was not reflected in current enrolments, but there had been unvaccinated children enrolled.

She said parents must provide evidence of vaccinations upon enrolment, and staff must be aware of unvaccinated children so parents can be updated in case of a disease outbreak.

"The majority of children who come into kindergarten are vaccinated," she said.

"Those families who attend our centre obviously see it as an important issue and do what's recommended – to ensure that the children are healthy, and to prevent the children from getting those life-threatening diseases."

Ms Benincasa believed the rates would differ between areas.

Dawson Street Child Care Co-operative director Narelle Lawton said vaccination was "not just a black and white issue".

Mrs Lawton, a mother of three boys, said it was a "no-brainer" to vaccinate her children, but other families had different ideas

"Every parent is trying to do the best they can for their child," she said. "They're always going to make the best choice for their family and their circumstances."

While Mrs Lawton personally believes that children who are not vaccinated "pose a risk", the centre would accept unvaccinated children's enrolments.

"While in this case Moreland has been highlighted, dropping vaccination rates are a growing trend nationally," local mayor Meghan Hopper said. "A statewide and national response, with a focus on education, is needed to tackle the problem."

Member for Brunswick Jane Garrett said the figures highlighted a significant public health issue.

She has pledged to target Brunswick child care centres and primary schools to release information about the importance of vaccinating.

Mr Pricolo suggested using general practitioners and pharmacists as an interface to educate people about the benefits of vaccinating.

"Even though they might not come in for a vaccination, everyone visits the pharmacist at some stage," he said.

"I don't think it would be hard to make pharmacies a point of contact."