Vaccine coverage in children born to migrant mothers in Australia: A population-based cohort study

Overall, infant immunisation coverage is currently >90% in Australia, but there are pockets of under-immunised children including children from migrant backgrounds. This study aimed to examine whether on-time vaccination coverage of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis dose 3 (DTP3) for children born in Australia differed by mother's region of birth and if so, what factors were associated with these differences.

We conducted a population-based cohort study using linked data on perinatal, immunisation and birth records for 2 million children born in Western Australia and New South Wales between 1996 and 2012. We assessed on-time coverage of DTP3 (vaccination from 2 weeks prior to, and up until 30 days after, the due date) in children with mothers born overseas. Logistic regression models were developed to determine factors associated with on-time coverage for each maternal region of birth and all regions combined, adjusting for a range of demographic factors. Adjusted estimates of coverage were calculated for the different regions of birth.

On-time DTP3 coverage was 76.2% in children of Australian born mothers, lower in children of mothers from Oceania (66.7%) and North America (68%), and higher in children born to mothers from South-East Asia (79.9%) and Southern Asia (79.3%). While most variables were consistently associated with lower coverage in all regions of birth, higher socioeconomic status and jurisdiction of birth showed varied results. Adjusted estimates of DTP3 coverage increased in children born to mothers from Australia (78.3%), Oceania (70.5%), Northern Africa (81.5%) and the Middle East (79.6%). DTP3 coverage decreased in children born to mothers from Europe and former USSR (74.6%), North-east Asia (75.2%), Southern Asia (76.7%), North America (65.5) and South/Central America and the Caribbean (73.2%).

On-time vaccination rates differed by mother's region of birth. More research is needed to determine the main reasons for these remaining differences to improve vaccine uptake and also help guide policy and practice.