Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Limitations of school entry immunization certificates
H Miksevicius1, P Johnson, P D Watt
1Central Coast Area Health Service, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia.
Objective:
To compare the immunization certificate submission rate for kindergarten school children on the Central Coast of New South Wales for 1994 and 1995; to contact individual parents of children with incomplete or missing immunization certificates by issuing a personalised immunization reminder letter, and measuring their response.
Methodology:
Seventy Central Coast schools were surveyed. Immunization documentation for 4177 kindergarten enrolements in 1995 were assessed. Children with incomplete or unknown immunization status were identified. Immunization reminder letters were sent by the schools to parents of the children that were identified. The school recorded any additional immunization certificates submitted.
Results:
In 1995, 79% of kindergarten children submitted immunization certificates, unchanged from the previous year. Immunization reminder letters were sent to 856 families of children with no certificate and 215 families of children with an incomplete certificate. A further 263 immunization certificates were submitted, representing a 25% response rate. This intervention increased the percentage of kindergarten children with a certificate from 79% to 86%.
Conclusions:
Education of school staff during the 1994 immunization survey did not change the overall immunization certificate submission rate. Specifically targeting parents through schools can be an effective way of increasing immunization certificate submission.
Related Concept Videos
Vaccinations
Immunological Memory
What is Immunological Memory?
Immunological memory is an integral function of the immune system that allows it to recognize and react more rapidly and effectively to pathogens previously encountered. This feature is...
Active versus Passive Immunity
Active Immunity
Active immunity refers to the resistance one develops...
Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Vaccines
Smallpox

