Abstract
This study assesses whether increased coverage of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination differs between areas where school nurses deliver catch-up MMR doses to adolescents in school settings, compared to signposting to general practice. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Child Health Information Services records within the NHS England South (South Central) commissioning boundary. The sample population included children born 1 September 2000-31 August 2001, in school year 9 during the 2014-15 academic year. The primary outcome findings show an increase in coverage of at least one dose of MMR by 1.6% (n=334) in the cohort receiving catch-up MMR, compared to 0.2% (n=12) in the cohort signposted to general practice. Over time, the difference in increase between the two cohorts was 1.4%, analysed using the chi-squared comparison of proportions test, providing strong evidence (P<0.0001) that school nurse delivery of catch-up MMR is effective at increasing coverage. The findings also suggest that school nurse delivery of catch-up MMR may benefit Black, Asian and minority ethnic children and those from more deprived backgrounds. It is recommended that commissioners of school-aged immunization services incorporate the delivery of catch-up MMR doses in their contracts with school nurses.
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