Public Health and Communicable Diseases - SA Health - SA.Gov.au

CASE STUDY 2Parents’ experiences of an Adverse EventFollowing Immunisation in South Australia – aqualitative studyEffective systems are required to monitor vaccinesafety and to provide ongoing support for those whoexperience an Adverse Event Following Immunisation(AEFI). This study aimed to better understand theexperience and implications for parents when theirchild suffers an AEFI. Semi-structured interviewswere conducted in the homes of 10 parents whosechild had an AEFI reported during April 2005.Most parents were aware of the risk of commonside effects following immunisation however werenot aware of adverse reactions. Although they hadreceived varying amounts of information aboutcommon side effects they believed that knowledgeabout vaccine common side effects and adversereactions is necessary to enhance the immunisationprocess.Parents’ belief in immunisation remained unchangedand they all said they would continue to vaccinatetheir children, but with an increased knowledgeand heightened awareness of the risks of adversereactions. Their satisfaction with the managementof health services during and after the event wasaffected by the interest shown by health professionalsand the timeliness of the service.The parents in this study were not deterred fromcontinuing their child’s vaccination schedule followingan AEFI; however their needs changed, and they nowrequire more information about adverse reactions.Delivery of a timely service by an interested healthprofessional maintained parental satisfaction with themanagement of the health services.For further information contact Susan Lewis, SAImmunisation Coordination Unit:susan.lewis@health.sa.gov.auCASE STUDY 3Uptake of varicella vaccine in South Australia – across sectional survey of parental attitudes tovaricella vaccinationVaricella (chickenpox) vaccine was licensed for usein Australia in March 2000 and was included butnot funded in the Australian Standard VaccinationSchedule (ASVS) in 2003. This study aimed to assessthe uptake of varicella vaccine in South Australianchildren and to examine the main reasons thatdetermine a parent’s decision to have their childimmunised with varicella vaccine.A telephone survey was conducted in 2004 anddata were obtained from 613 households containingchildren less than 18 years of age. Six hundred andeighty children (55.7%) had a history of varicellainfection and 446 children (42.0%) had receiveda varicella vaccine. Almost 41% of susceptiblechildren aged 18 months to two years and 30.5%aged 2-4 years have no protection against varicella.Reasons why parents decided to have their childimmunised included concern about acquiring varicella(65.6%) and inclusion of the vaccine on the ASVS(10.8%). Excluding previous varicella infection, themost common reasons cited for not having childrenimmunised included lack of knowledge about thevaccine and cost. Concern about side effects (2.3%)was reported less commonly.Four years after the registration and licensing ofvaricella vaccine and one year following inclusionof the vaccine in the ASVS there is evidence ofincomplete coverage in children in South Australia.Federal Government funding for varicella vaccineshould result in high coverage rates, as the mainreasons why parents choose not to have their childimmunised would be addressed.For further information contact Helen Marshall,University of Adelaide: helen.marshall@adelaide.edu.au28