A review of the efficacy of human Q fever vaccine registered in Australia

Clayton K. Chiu; David N. Durrheim

doi:10.1071/NB07057

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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A review of the efficacy of human Q fever vaccine registered in Australia

Clayton K. Chiu ^A and David N. Durrheim ^B ^C

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A NSW Public Health Officer Training Program, NSW Department of Health

^B Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service

^C Corresponding author. Email: David.Durrheim@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 18(8) 133-136 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07057
Published: 27 August 2007

Abstract

Background: Q fever remains an important occupational zoonosis in rural Australia. Although Q fever vaccine is recommended in high-risk occupational groups, its availability has been limited in recent years. Method: A literature review of the efficacy of the human Q fever vaccine registered in Australia was conducted. Results: Seven relevant vaccine efficacy studies were identified but no large double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies have been conducted. Vaccine efficacy has ranged from 83–100% but limitations of study designs hamper a precise estimate of vaccine efficacy. Conclusion: Despite the shortcomings of efficacy studies, the Q fever vaccine available in Australia has considerable protective benefit in established high-risk environments, particularly of an occupational nature.

Acknowledgements

Data from the NSW Notifiable Diseases Database was accessed through the Health Outcomes Information and Statistics Toolkit (HOIST) system, a data access, analysis and reporting facility established and operated by the Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health

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