Immunity Passports Research Articles

An evaluation of school entry immunisation certificates in Victoria

We evaluated legislation introduced into Victoria in 1991 requiring that all children enrolling in primary school certify their immunisation status. Information was requested from all local councils. All primary schools in two local government areas were followed up, providing an indication of the validity of the analysis obtained from data collected during the mid-year census. From 166 of 210 local councils in Victoria, 48,422 documents relating to school entry immunisation certificates were issued for children entering their preparatory year. At least 522 children were enrolled in school on an undertaking to complete immunisation, and were likely to have had their immunisation completed as a result of the legislation. Only 170 statutory declarations of conscientious objection to immunisation were made, indicating that few parents are willing to express firm anti-vaccine sentiments. Compliance with the immunisation certificate legislation is overestimated by the mid-year census because many schools have accepted nonstatutory evidence of immunisation. Mobile and immigrant families find it particularly difficult to achieve certification. Local councils are inconsistent in the way in which they issue certificates. Further follow-up and feedback is essential to better inform schools and parents about the legislation. Such follow-up can improve the certification rates of children then and in subsequent years. The legislation has imposed a considerable workload on councils, but without efforts to improve compliance with the legislation and to develop practical guidelines for documentation of immunisation and appropriate guidelines regarding transfer, many inadequately immunised children may remain at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases.

To screen or to vaccinate? A decision analysis for rubella prevention on campus.

Abstract Rubella is common among young adults. The most important consequences of rubella are fetal anomalies resulting from maternal rubella infection in early pregnancy. Health officials strongly advocate a mandatory rubella immunization policy for college students, leaving school officials the dilemma of deciding how to implement it. To effectively prevent a rubella outbreak, a herd immunity of ≥ 95% is needed. This can be accomplished either by: 1) screening all students who do not provide a valid rubella immunization certificate and giving the vaccine to those with negative titers, or 2) vaccinating all of them without prior testing. At the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), we have shifted our approach of rubella prevention from “screening first” to “vaccinating without prior testing.” We analyzed data from the past 6 years of our rubella prevention program and found that the latter approach was safe and simpler to administer. Decision analysis reveals that this approach can achieve an identical her...

A Varicella-zoster Immunization Certification Form for Hospital Employees

A Varicella-zoster Immunization Certification Form for Hospital Employees