Abstract
BackgroundThe Victorian Government Department of Health funded a diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine for parents of infants from June 2009 to June 2012 as part of a cocooning strategy for the control of pertussis. The aim of this study was to assess parents’ attitudes and awareness of the vaccination program, and to estimate vaccine uptake.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 253 families with a child born in the first quarter of 2010 residing within five metropolitan and four rural local government areas in Victoria was conducted. Univariate analyses were performed to describe the relationship between demographic variables, knowledge and awareness of the disease, the vaccine program and vaccine uptake. Multivariate analyses examining predictors for awareness of the vaccine program and for the uptake of vaccination were also conducted.ResultsOne hundred and five families were surveyed (response rate 43%). Of these, 93% indicated that they had heard of ‘pertussis’ or ‘whooping cough’ and 75% of mothers and 69% of fathers were aware the pertussis vaccine was available and funded for new parents. Overall, 70% of mothers and 53% of fathers were vaccinated following their child’s birth, with metropolitan fathers less likely to be vaccinated as rural fathers (RR = 0.6, p = 0.002). Being a younger mother (p = 0.02) or father (p = 0.047), and being an Australian-born father (RR = 1.9, p = 0.03) were found to predict uptake of the vaccine in parents.ConclusionParents indicated a reasonable level of knowledge of pertussis and a willingness to be vaccinated to protect their child. However, vaccine uptake estimates indicated further opportunity for program improvement. Future cocooning strategies would benefit from specifically targeting fathers and metropolitan maternity hospitals to increase vaccine uptake. Wider promotion of the availability of vaccine providers may increase uptake to maximise the success of cocooning programs. Further investigation of the effectiveness of the cocooning strategy in decreasing infant morbidity and mortality is required.
Highlights
The Victorian Government Department of Health funded a diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine for parents of infants from June 2009 to June 2012 as part of a cocooning strategy for the control of pertussis
Two rural Local Government Area (LGA) did not have sufficient births registered in the three month study window, so the period was extended to 1 January to 30 April 2010 for these LGAs only
Eighty-four percent of mothers and 78% of fathers were born in Australia; none identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Summary
The Victorian Government Department of Health funded a diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine for parents of infants from June 2009 to June 2012 as part of a cocooning strategy for the control of pertussis. Between 2009 and 2011, epidemic numbers of pertussis were seen in Victoria, with 3,737 cases in 2009, 6,960 cases in 2010, and 8,812 cases in 2011 notified to the Department of Health [2] This was a notable rise compared with the 1,673 cases notified in 2008 and 1,053 cases in 2007 [2,3]. A time-limited funded vaccination program for parents of infants was implemented by the Victorian Government Department of Health from 15 June 2009 in response to the rising incidence of pertussis [6]. The program provided adult diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine [dTpa] free of charge to hospitals, general practitioners and local councils for administration to parents.
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