Impact of a collaborative immunisation programme in an inner city practice

To describe the impact of a collaborative immunisation programme, between an inner city practice and the Eastern Health Board (EHB).

An observational study using a computer database formed from practice and EHB records.

One Dublin inner city practice with three partners located in an area with a deprived socio-economic profile.

All patients in the practice aged more than six months and less than five years identified both from practice registers and opportunistically during study period.

342 children, older than six months and less than five years were identified at start and 464 (a 36% increase) by end of the programme. Uptake changed for DPT from 30% before, to 57% after the programme (p < 0.0005), for DT from 15% to 13%, for Hib from 7% to 50% (p < 0.0005) and for MMR (over 15 months) from 53% to 75% (p < 0.0005). Uptake of the DPT, Hib and MMR was 35% among GMS eligible, 51% among GMS ineligible (p < 0.005).

A collaborative immunisation programme significantly improved practice uptake rates. These improved rates still do not attain declared national targets. To achieve these targets, radical overhaul of the immunisation service is required.