Vaccination coverage of 2-year-old children and immunization practices--Canada, 1994

The purpose of the study was to assess vaccination coverage of 2-year-olds and estimate immunization practices in Canada using a postal survey with a panel of 862 households. RIM weighting was used to provide national estimates. 95% CIs were calculated using the binomial method. Completed questionnaires were received for 534 children born between February 1991 and January 1992. Thirty nine percent of children had received all/most of their vaccinations at a public health clinic. Overall 5.6% parents indicated they had their child immunized because it was mandatory and 7.4% because of requirements for school, pre-school, nursery or day care attendance. A total of 78.7% of parents remembered receiving information on benefits of immunizations and 97% on the risks/side-effects. By their second birthday, 83.7% (95% CI 80.3-86.7) of 2-year-olds had received complete immunization against poliomyelitis; 97.2% (95% CI 95.4-98.4), at least one dose of a measles containing vaccine; 86.5% (95% CI 83.3-89.3), at least one dose of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; and 81.6% (95% CI 78.1-84.8), at least, four doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine.