Collection of routine national seasonal influenza vaccine coverage data from GP practices in England using a web-based collection system.

This paper describes a web-based system developed to collect data on influenza (flu) vaccine uptake in near real time during the flu season in England. Data are collected from all GP practices providing the immunisation programme. Data are submitted either monthly or weekly on-line to a website using manual, automated and semi-automated methods. During the 2008/09 season, a final response rate of 96.2% was achieved (n=7980/8293). This equates to 52,217,430 GP registered patients aged 6 months and over being included in the survey. The majority of reports (65.5%) were submitted via automated or semi-automated methods. We were also able to collect the data weekly from a sentinel group of GP practices (approximately 50%) that have fully automated data extraction facilities. This system successfully provides data locally and nationally to monitor the annual seasonal flu programme, with a large sample size, quickly and efficiently, with minimal burden on the NHS. At a time when the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century is occurring, the ability to measure influenza vaccine uptake coverage in near real time will be invaluable.

Parental response to the introduction of a vaccine against human papilloma virus.

The introduction of a vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that is the causal factor of at least 95% of invasive cervical cancer, could significantly reduce the number of cases of cervical cancer occurring in the UK each year. To ensure that individuals are protected before onset of sexual activity, it is likely that the vaccine will be offered to children around 10 years of age. It is important that parents' attitudes to HPV vaccination are taken into account, particularly as the subject relates to sexual health issues. In order to gauge parents' initial responses to the addition of HPV vaccine to the immunisation programme and identify the issues needing further research, in-depth interviews were held with parents of girls and boys aged 8-10 years. Our results show that most parents have not heard of HPV and were not aware of the role of HPV in cervical cancer. There were concerns about offering a vaccine that protects against a sexually transmitted infection to children and that the vaccine should be offered at an older age in conjunction with a sex education program. In order to avoid rejection of this vaccine, work needs to take place now to raise awareness of HPV as a cause of cervical cancer prior to any introduction of the vaccination program.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine uptake in England, 1989-2003, prior to the introduction of a vaccination programme for older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Following the licensure of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV) in 1989, a risk-group-only immunization policy was implemented in 1992 in England. The PPV programme was extended in 2003 to include all individuals 65 years and over. In England, this was phased in over 3 years. To ascertain the performance of the risk group policy in those 65 years of age and over and provide a baseline to estimate the impact of the universal elderly programme. METHODS: Information was gathered on vaccine uptake for the period 1989-2003 in England from a national survey of general practitioners (GPs) through NHS primary care trusts (PCTs), the prescription cost analysis (PCA) system and the General Practice Research Database (GPRD). RESULTS: Between 1991 and 2003, 4.5 million doses of PPV were prescribed. The GP survey found that by 2003, 29% of those 65 years and over of age and 36% of those 80 years of age over had received PPV. Sixty-two per cent of general practices had implemented a risk-group-only policy, 14.4% had targeted all those 65 years of age over and 14.2% had targeted all those 75 years of age over. The GPRD study found that 38% of those 65 years over and 41% of those 80 years over fell into one or more high-risk groups. By 2003, 36.6% of the high-risk group and 30.2% of all those 65 years over had ever been vaccinated. Vaccine uptake increased with age, with 52.3% of the high-risk group and 37% of all those 80 years over having ever been vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of those in risk groups remained unvaccinated with PPV in 2003. Formal evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the universal elderly immunization programme will be required.

Tracking mothers attitudes to childhood immunisation 1991-2001.

This report presents the findings from a series of 20 surveys carried out between 1991 and 2001. The main objectives of the research were to: This unique body of more than 15,000 interviews was conducted as part of a routine programme of research supporting the national immunisation programme in England. These surveys show that the public wants clarity, consistency, factual information and openness from those delivering immunisation services.