Immunisation coverage in Australian children: a systematic review 1990-1998 - Tables 5-9

This report, published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 23 Number 6, 10 June 1999, contains a review on immunisation coverage in Australian children, 1990-1998, by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register. This section of the report contains the abstract, summary, introduction, background and methods. The full report can be viewed in 7 HTML documents and is also available in PDF format.

Page last updated: 21 June 1999

Susan Lister,1 Peter B McIntyre,1 Margaret A Burgess,1 Eddie D O'Brien2



Table 5. Immunisation coverage in schools

Study
Location
Design
Final sample size and age
Response rate* (%)
Strategy
Validation
Watt et al (1996)96 NSW Central Coast Cross-sectional survey (school entry) 3,741 children from 68 schools, enrolled in kindergarten in 1994 97% of total kindergarten enrolments Review of immunisation certificates in all North Coast schools including non-government schools School entry certificates used (90% completed)
Kelly et al (1993)126 WA (Midwest and Gasgoyne regions) Cross-sectional survey (school entry) 1,008 children from 49 schools, enrolled in Grade 1 in 1992 N/A Review of immunisation status by school nurse using a range of documentation and maternal report 86.7% of children had 'adequate' documentation
Kelly et al (1994)81 WA (Great Southern Region) Cross-sectional survey (school entry) 1,220 children enrolled in Grade 1 in 1994 N/A Review of immunisation status by school nurse using documentation and maternal report 84% had immunisation cards or school records
Gilchrist et al (1993)76 NSW (South West Health Area) Cross-sectional survey (school entry) 3,666 kindergarten children attending schools in 1992 86% Questionnaire mailed to parents by school nurses Most parents consulted PHR - not validated by researchers
Bell et al (1993)69 NSW (western Sydney) Cross-sectional survey in primary schools 966 kindergarten children in 1992 91% sample Questionnaire mailed to parents, including non-government schools No - parental report only
Kempe et al (1995)82 ACT (Territory-wide) Cross-sectional survey (school entry) Random sample of 350 immunisation records from 3,398 kindergarten records 85% parents returned child's record to school (N= 3,398) Review of a sample of school immunisation records for kindergarten children in 1994 Providers authorised the records
Leckie et al (1996)83 NSW (Auburn LGA) Cross-sectional survey (school entry) 737 kindergarten children in all primary schools in 1994 100% Review of all school immunisation records by school nurses Most had provider authorised records
Watson (1997)95 WA (Swan Health Service) Cross-sectional survey (school entry) 405 kindergarten children from 9 primary schools 100% Review of all school immunisation records by school nurses and follow-up as required Provider authorised records used
Duffield (1997)50 WA (Southern Region) Cross-sectional survey (school entry) 2,203 kindergarten children from 158 schools in 1995-6 55% Review of immunisation records by school nurses with follow-up if no record produced at enrolment Provider authorised records only used

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Table 6. Immunisation coverage: Outbreak studies

Study
Location
Design
Final sample size and age
Response rate* (%)
Strategy
Validation
Herceg et al (1994)79 ACT (one primary school) Cross-sectional survey (outbreak investigation for measles) 384 children attending a primary school aged 4-12 years 78% Questionnaire mailed to parents and cases identified in 1993 Parents asked to consult PHR
Miles et al (1992)88 Port Stevens Shire, NSW Cross-sectional survey (outbreak investigation for measles) 158 cases including 116 school pupils (average age 7 years, 7 months) 73% school children N/A Data was collected on all cases in a measles outbreak by active surveillance and contact tracing in 1990 Record of clinical or serological diagnosis
Donnelly et al (1994)72 Bunbury, WA Cross-sectional survey (outbreak investigation for measles) 53 cases from high and primary schools N/A All cases notified received a telephone questionnaire and contacts were identified Serological confirmation in 40% of cases
Lush et al (1994)84 Alice Springs, NT Review of measles notifications (outbreak investigation for measles) 258 cases notified aged from <1 year to over 30 years (55% Aboriginal) N/A Review of notifications and hospital records of measles cases Serosurvey and clinical diagnosis
McDonnell et al (1995)85 NSW (Western Sydney) Matched case-control study (measles vaccine) 79 children aged 5-9 years in 5 primary schools in 1993 91% response from initial screening survey Screening for measles by parent questionnaire (mailed). Cases and controls selected, parents interviewed at home PHR / provider held records used

* Response rate shows % of original sample in the final sample

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Table 7. Immunisation coverage in other settings

Study
Location
Design
Final sample size and age
Response rates*
Strategy
Validation
Burgess et al (1996)65 NSW (Central Sydney) Cross-sectional survey in Early Childhood Centres (ECCs), GP surgeries and hospital AandE 5,162 children age 0-15 years during an 8 week period in 1993 N/A Questionnaire completed by all parents prior to their child receiving service (ECC, GP or A and E). 'On the Spot' vaccination given if required Provider records used where possible (or parental recall)
Jones et al (1992)67 NSW (Camperdown, Sydney) Cross-sectional survey (hospital based) All children (N=520) attending casualty over a 10 day period in 1989 100% Parents of all children attending a paediatric casualty dept. were interviewed PHR and provider held records where possible
Thompson et al (1998)68 Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre (MJJC) Cross-sectional serological survey 90 adolescents participated and 85 agreed to venipuncture 69% participated Questionnaire completed and blood sample taken from trainees at the MJJC Serosurvey
Hawe et al (1991)23 NSW (Western Sydney) Cross-sectional serological survey (measles only) 128 children in final sample in 1986-87 80% Parents were approached in four 24 hour medical centres waiting rooms and interviewed. Blood sample also taken Serosurvey
Ewald et al (1998)66 Alice Springs, NT Cross-sectional study of PHRs in three General Practices 146 children aged 0-6 years attending GPs in Alice Springs in 1997 100% Parent interviews at the GP surgeries. PHRs viewed and results checked against ACIR database PHRs, providers records and ACIR

* Response rate shows percentage of original sample in the final sample

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Table 8. Summary of immunisation status for children aged 12-23 months (using studies dated from 1995)

Study state
Age
DTP (3 doses)(%) OPV
(%) 		MMR (%) Hib (%) Fully immunised (%)
ABS (1995) Australia)5 12-23 months
88.5% (D/T) 86.2% (P)
86.3%
86.8% measles 86.0% mumps 81.4% rubella
62.3%
51.4% (incl. Hib) 70.8% (exc. Hib)
Bond et al (1998) (Vic)17 9-16 months
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
9 months: 93.1% (includes Hib) 16 months: 92%
Victorian Maternal and Child Health nurses (1995-6) (Vic)7 1-2 years
85.2%
85.4%
77%
N/A
N/A
Thorman et al (1997) (NT)11 12-14 months
89%
87%
91%
79%
75%
Parker et al (1995) (Qld)8 12-18 months
85-86% (DTP/OPV/Hib)
81%
N/A
N/A
Kilmartin et al (1998) (Tas)111 12 months (54 weeks)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
94%
Skinner et al (1995) (NSW)110 12 months
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
21% (on time)

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Table 9. Summary of immunisation status for children aged 2 years (using studies dated from 1994)

Study state
Age range
DTP (%) OPV (%) MMR (%) Hib (%) Fully immunised (%)
ABS (1995) (Australia)5 24-35 months
63% (D/T) 57.5% (P)
86.9%
91.5% measles 90.1% mumps 81.1% rubella
52%
34.3% (inc. Hib) 51.3% (exc. Hib)
Skinner et al (1995) (NSW)110 21-24 months
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
86% (exc. Hib)
Herceg et al (1995) (NSW)113 24-35 months
80.9%
95.5%
93%
59.2%
51.1% (inc. Hib) 77% (exc. Hib)
Lloyd et al (1996) (NSW)99 24-35 months
69.9%
79.8%
86.5%
N/A
63.8% (exc. Hib)
Hall et al (1994) (NSW)58 2-4 years
84%
89.6%
90.6%
N/A
80.2% (exc. Hib)
Sullivan et al (1998) (NSW)124 3-24 months
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
66% (exc. Hib)
Hanna et al (1994) (QLD)97 24-35 months
63.8%
82.4%
81.9%
N/A
60.3% (exc. Hib)
Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nurses (1996-7) (VIC)7 24-35 months
85.3%
86.7%
76%
85.2%
N/A
Carnie et al (1995) (VIC)116 18-36 months
93.1% (DTP/ OPV)
89.9%
N/A
87.8% (exc. Hib)
Mitchell et al 1996 NT child-care services (NT)106 24-35 months
77%
73%
92%
76-81%
66.5% (inc. Hib)
Mitchell et al 1996 Urban Darwin area (NT)10 24-35 months
60%
60%
76%
50%
N/A



This article was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 23, No 6, 10 June 1999.

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CDI Vol 23, No 6, 10 June 1999

Immunisation coverage in Australian children: a systematic review 1990-1998

Communicable Diseases Intelligence