Open AccessThe initial coverage and impact of the pneumococcal and influenza vaccination program for at‐risk Indigenous adults in Far North Queensland
Author(s) -
Hanna Jeffrey N.,
Young Dallas M.,
Brookes Dianne L.,
Dostie Brigitte G.,
Murphy Denise M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-842x.2001.tb00321.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vaccination , incidence (geometry) , pneumococcal infections , pneumococcal disease , influenza vaccine , pneumococcal vaccine , population , confidence interval , indigenous , disease burden , pediatrics , demography , immunology , streptococcus pneumoniae , environmental health , biology , ecology , physics , sociology , bacteria , optics , genetics
Objectives: To describe the initial coverage and impact of a pneumococcal and influenza vaccination program for at‐risk Indigenous adults in Far North Queensland that formally commenced in 1996. Design: Ascertainment of vaccine coverages, and prospective laboratory surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease occurring in Indigenous adults in the region. Main outcome measures: Coverages of the first doses of both vaccines administered since 1995, and the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in Indigenous adults in the region between 1993–2000. Results: Most (96% and 73%) of the Indigenous adults >50 years of age received influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, respectively, for the first time between 1995–2000. Assuming that either 33% or 50% of Indigenous adults 15–49 years of age in Far North Queensland were eligible for vaccination, then either 109% or 72% of this population received influenza vaccine, and either 75% or 50% received pneumococcal vaccine, respectively, for the first time between 1995–2000. The incidence of vaccine‐preventable invasive pneumococcal disease fell from 111 (95% confidence interval [CI] 77–154) cases per 100,000 per year in 1993/94 to 28 (95% CI 13–53) cases per 100,000 per year in 1999–2000 ( p <0.05). Conclusion: Although there was a significant decline in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease, the vaccine coverages after five years of the program were suboptimal. Because of the difficulties in targeting the 15–49 years age group and because of unrecognised risk factors, we suggest that a universal Indigenous adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccination program should be considered.