Marnix Mus1, Sanne Kreijkamp-Kaspers2, Treasure McGuire3,4, Laura Deckx2, Mieke van Driel2. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus Universiteit, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 2. Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. 3. School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland. 4. Mater Pharmacy Services, Mater Health Services, Queensland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Immunisation is crucial to population health. This study aimed to identify the information needs and concerns of health consumers regarding childhood vaccination. METHODS: We analysed 1,342 calls concerning childhood vaccination to an Australian pharmacist-operated medicines call centre (MCC). Data were available from September 2002 until June 2010. We identified key themes and compared these for callers from high and low immunisation coverage areas. RESULTS: Most calls related to safety concerns (60.4%), with many questions about vaccine constituents (31.6%). In low immunisation areas, a higher level of concern persisted about vaccine preservatives (mercury and thiomersal) despite their removal from vaccines in 2000. Of specific vaccines, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine raised most questions (29.9%). Common motivations to call the MCC were 'inadequate information' (54%), 'second opinion' (21%) 'conflicting information' (9%) and 'worrying symptom' (6%). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The consistent number of vaccine-related calls, particularly about safety, demonstrates an information gap that can contribute to vaccination hesitancy. Health professionals need to know their local immunisation rate and associated carer concerns, to proactively address these information-related barriers to vaccination.
OBJECTIVES: Immunisation is crucial to population health. This study aimed to identify the information needs and concerns of health consumers regarding childhood vaccination. METHODS: We analysed 1,342 calls concerning childhood vaccination to an Australian pharmacist-operated medicines call centre (MCC). Data were available from September 2002 until June 2010. We identified key themes and compared these for callers from high and low immunisation coverage areas. RESULTS: Most calls related to safety concerns (60.4%), with many questions about vaccine constituents (31.6%). In low immunisation areas, a higher level of concern persisted about vaccine preservatives (mercury and thiomersal) despite their removal from vaccines in 2000. Of specific vaccines, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine raised most questions (29.9%). Common motivations to call the MCC were 'inadequate information' (54%), 'second opinion' (21%) 'conflicting information' (9%) and 'worrying symptom' (6%). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The consistent number of vaccine-related calls, particularly about safety, demonstrates an information gap that can contribute to vaccination hesitancy. Health professionals need to know their local immunisation rate and associated carer concerns, to proactively address these information-related barriers to vaccination.
Authors: Michał Konrad Zarobkiewicz; Aleksandra Zimecka; Tomasz Zuzak; Dominika Cieślak; Jacek Roliński; Ewelina Grywalska Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2017-09-21 Impact factor: 3.452