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Biomedical subjects

P D Watt

Publications and source records attributed to P D Watt.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Limitations of school entry immunization certificates.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the immunization certificate submission rate for kindergarten school children on the Central Coast of New South Wales for 1994 and 1995; to contact individual parents of children with incomplete or missing immunization certificates by issuing a personalised immunization reminder letter, and measuring their response. METHODOLOGY: Seventy Central Coast schools were surveyed. Immunization documentation for 4177 kindergarten enrolements in 1995 were assessed. Children with incomplete or unknown immunization status were identified. Immunization reminder letters were sent by the schools to parents of the children that were identified. The school recorded any additional immunization certificates submitted. RESULTS: In 1995, 79% of kindergarten children submitted immunization certificates, unchanged from the previous year. Immunization reminder letters were sent to 856 families of children with no certificate and 215 families of children with an incomplete certificate. A further 263 immunization certificates were submitted, representing a 25% response rate. This intervention increased the percentage of kindergarten children with a certificate from 79% to 86%. CONCLUSIONS: Education of school staff during the 1994 immunization survey did not change the overall immunization certificate submission rate. Specifically targeting parents through schools can be an effective way of increasing immunization certificate submission.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1996

An evaluation of 1994 school entry immunization certificates on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate school entry immunization certificates and document the immunization status of children enrolled during 1994 in kindergartens on the NSW Central Coast. METHODOLOGY: Immunization certificates and non-statutory documentation of immunization for school entry presented by parents were evaluated during visits to 68 NSW Central Coast schools in May and June 1994. RESULTS: Immunization information for 3741 kindergarten enrollments was reviewed. Of these enrollments, 79% presented immunization certificates of which 10% were incomplete, 14% presented non-statutory documentation and 7% had no certificate or non-statutory documentation. It was considered that 19% of children were incompletely immunized; 8% of certificates presented were incorrectly completed. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that about 80% of Central Coast school entrants were fully immunized. Reliance on immunization certificates as evidence of immunization may overestimate vaccination completion rates, as some certificates may be incorrectly completed. Education of parents, school staff and certificate providers should help to improve both immunization completion and documentation.

Child Welfare↗
PubMed1993

Vaccination status and ward-based opportunistic immunization of children admitted to Madang General Hospital, 1985-1990.

One-third of the 7494 children under five years old admitted to the Madang General Hospital Children's Ward from January 1985 to December 1990 were identified as incompletely vaccinated. Of these, 84% were vaccinated before being discharged from hospital. It is strongly recommended that all children admitted to hospital be screened to identify those who are incompletely vaccinated and that they be then vaccinated. The minority of children who are very sick on admission can have their vaccinations deferred for the day or two it will take for their condition to improve.

Age Factors↗