[Vaccination status and sociodemographic variables in Viennese public school students]

A representative sample of 585 children, attending 2nd grade elementary school in Vienna, was examined. Vaccination certificates were collected, the parents' attitudes towards recommended vaccinations and data on sociodemographic variables were obtained by questionnaire. Compared to 95.9% of the less educated only 90.4% of the higher educated parents are interested that their children receive all vaccinations recommended (p < 0.01). When the dominant country equals "Austria", parents are more reluctant (p < 0.05) to have their children vaccinated (80.4%), compared to others (former Yugoslavia 92%, Turkey 90.9%, other countries 93.1%). A complete immunization against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Poliomyelitis (DT/OPV) was observed in 65.3% of the children. DT/OPV and additionally Mumps and Measles (MM) in 54% and DT/OPV + MM and Pertussis in 43.8% respectively. The immunization coverage is significantly higher (p < 0.01) in children with the dominant country = Austria (DT/OPV 70.7%, DT/OPV + MM 61.8%, DT/OPV + MM + Pertus sis 51.1%) compared to children from former Yugoslavia (DT/OPV 56.3%, DT/OPV + MM 34.5%, DT/OPV + MM + Pertussis 24.1%), Turkey (DT/OPV 54.5%, DT/OPV + MM 40.9%, DT/OPV + MM + Pertussis 33.3%), and "other countries" (DT/OPV 41.4%, DT/OPV + MM 34.5%, DT/OPV + MM + Pertussis 24.1%).