Immunisation status in the public care system: A comparative study

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 23; no. 21; pp. 2820 - 2823
• Main Authors: Barnes, Peter, Price, Lorna, Maddocks, Alison, Cheung, W.Y., Williams, John, Jackson, Sonia, Mason, Brendan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15.04.2005; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Caregivers; Child; Child Health Services; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Children in public care; Comparative studies; Confidence intervals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunisation status; Immunization; Looked after children; Microbiology; Social services; Studies; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Whooping cough; United Kingdom > UK; England; Wales; Children in public care; Immunisation status; Looked after children; Human; Immunization; Vaccine; Child; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2004.12.001

Children in public care have poor health outcomes despite statutory health assessments. Incomplete immunisation of children entering the care system has been reported. Does this health disadvantage persist for those established in the care system? The immunisation status of 119 children in public care for at least 6 months was compared to that noted in 119 age and sex matched children living in their own homes. Children in public care were significantly less likely to have received immunisations against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, than the comparison group. This represents a persisting health disadvantage, which requires remedial action.