Four years' experience with a mobile gammacamera service.

Abstract

The importance of the observations lies in the fact that a service offered to all is not being taken up evenly across the whole community. It is also clear that many children from all ethnic groups are not receiving immunisations at the recommended ages. Delay in taking immunisation might occur for a number of reasons such as frequent change of address, the child may be unwell or con? sidered unfit for immunisation by the doctor or health visitor on the scheduled day, and there may be poor understanding and poor motivation to accept immunisation on the part of the parents or of the health service staff. This is unfortunate when 33% of notifications for whooping cough and 28% of notifica? tions for measles in Bradford are for children aged 24 months or less. It is not possible to quantify how many of the differences are related to ethnic group as opposed to factors such as social class, place of residence, or the practices of local health professionals. Further research using the same life table method could clarify this and allow better targeting of health care. It is also suggested that a study should be made of the Indian community to identify those characteristics that encourage their desirable pattern of immunisation uptake so that these can be encouraged in other groups. Finally, it is suggested that the graphical method of presenting life table data on immunisation be developed as a form of understandable feedback to those directly working in immunisa? tion programmes.