Immunisation practices of general practitioners in metropolitan Sydney

An anonymous postal survey of all known general practitioners in the Northern Sydney Health Area (N = 987) examined the provision of immunisation services in general practice. Questions were asked about knowledge of storage of vaccines, the ages of patients administered measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, the use of reminder systems for subsequent vaccinations and whether maternal and family health was discussed at immunisation visits. There were 394 (40 per cent) respondents. Only 30 per cent used temperature monitors in their vaccine refrigerators, and 26 per cent correctly identified the period after opening that Sabin may be used (eight hours). Forty-one percent correctly injected infants in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh and 40 per cent administered measles-mumps-rubella vaccine by the recommended age of 12 months. Forty-one percent of respondents always used visits for immunisation to discuss other issues of maternal and child health and 16 per cent used reminder systems for follow-up. Sixty-six per cent of general practitioners stated that they were more likely to review the immunisation status of adolescents routinely, compared to 55 per cent who reviewed adults and 44 per cent who reviewed senior citizens. Routine review of all three groups was carried out by 43 per cent. These results must be interpreted with caution because of low response rates, and cannot necessarily be generalised to all general practitioners providing immunisation services. Nevertheless, important deficiencies in knowledge and practice of immunisation have been identified.