Opportunistic 'catch-up' immunisation at entrant school medicals: parental attitudes and uptake

The immunisation records of all 735 primary schoolchildren eligible for the entrant school medical examination in the Louth and District Unit were scrutinised for completion of primary and booster immunisations. Forty-six (6.26%) were identified as requiring one or more immunisations and, of these, just over half (52%) needed all (i.e. diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and MMR). Completion of prophylaxis was offered to the children at the time of their attendance for the routine entrant school medical No parents disapproved of the offer of immunisation as part of the entrant school medical. The additional school medical sessional time required to incorporate immunisation averaged at four minutes per child. Opportunistic immunisation at the entrant school medical was found to be acceptable both to parents and schools, and is an effective and efficient means of 'mopping up' incomplete primary and booster immunisations in districts where the overall uptakes are already high.