Vaccine preventable diseases and vaccination coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australia, 1999 to 2002

Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2004;28(2):127-59.

Abstract

This report complements the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Vaccination Coverage reports produced biannually since 2000 by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases in association with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It integrates the available sources of routinely collected data relevant to the current status of vaccine preventable diseases and vaccine coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. It aims to better inform Indigenous communities, Indigenous health care providers and planners of immunisation services of the current status and future needs for vaccine prevention in Indigenous people. The data presented here demonstrate that vaccination programs have had a significant impact on the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Several areas are highlighted for further development of vaccination policy recommendations, in particular high rates of preventable hepatitis A and B, influenza and pneumococcal disease. Areas where more research is needed include means to more accurately monitor vaccination status, the applicability of meningococcal serogroup B vaccines when available, and effective ways of increasing vaccination coverage and timeliness of vaccination. Such issues need to be considered and implemented in full cooperation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
  • Bacterial Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Communicable Disease Control / standards*
  • Communicable Disease Control / trends
  • Communicable Diseases / diagnosis
  • Communicable Diseases / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Services, Indigenous / standards*
  • Health Services, Indigenous / trends
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs / standards*
  • Immunization Programs / trends
  • Male
  • National Health Programs / standards
  • National Health Programs / trends
  • New South Wales
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Rural Health Services / standards
  • Rural Health Services / trends
  • Survival Analysis
  • Vaccination / standards*
  • Vaccination / trends
  • Viral Vaccines

Substances

  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Viral Vaccines