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The success of Australia's 'No Jab, No Pay' policy at a local level; retrospective clinical audit of a single medical practice assessing incidence of catch-up vaccinations.
Cordingley, Timothy J; Wilson, Mark A G; Weston, Kathryn M.
  • Cordingley TJ; Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Wilson MAG; Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Weston KM; Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
Health Soc Care Community ; 30(1): 353-359, 2022 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1574075
ABSTRACT
Vaccination is a vital health care initiative to prevent individual and population infection. To increase vaccination rates the federal government implemented the 'No Jab, No Pay' policy, where eligibility for several government benefits required children to be fully vaccinated by removing 'conscientious objections' and expanding the age range of children whose families receive benefits. This study assesses the impact of this policy at a local area within a single medical practice community in NSW, Australia. A retrospective clinical audit was performed between 2012 and 2017 on a single general practice's vaccination records for children ≤19 years. Catch-up vaccinations were assessed based on age at vaccination. Incidence of catch-up vaccinations was assessed for each of four years before and two years after the implementation of the 'No Jab, No Pay' policy in January 2016, along with the age of children and vaccination(s) given. Catch-up vaccinations were assessed temporally either side of implementation of 'No Jab, No Pay'. Comparing the average annual vaccination catch-up incidence rate of 6.2% pre-implementation (2012-2015), there was an increase to 9.2% in 2016 (p < .001) and 7.8% in 2017 (p = .027). Secondary outcome measurement of catch-up vaccination incidence rates before (2012-2015) and after (2016-2017) 'No Jab, No Pay' implementation showed statistically significant increases for children aged 8-11 years (3.2%-5.6%, p = .038), 12-15 years (7.5%-14.7%, p < .001) and 16-19 years (3.3%-10.2%, p < .001) along with a statistically significant reduction in children aged 1-3 years (11.4%-6.2%, p = .015). Also, catch-up rates for DTPa significantly increased after program implementation. This study demonstrates that the Australian federal government vaccination policy 'No Jab, No Pay' was coincident with an increase in catch-up vaccinations within a rural NSW community served by one medical practice, especially for older children.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Vaccination / Policy Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Limits: Adolescent / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Oceania Language: English Journal: Health Soc Care Community Journal subject: Social Sciences / Social Medicine / Health Services Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Hsc.13408

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Vaccination / Policy Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Limits: Adolescent / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Oceania Language: English Journal: Health Soc Care Community Journal subject: Social Sciences / Social Medicine / Health Services Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Hsc.13408