School-based vaccination in NSW

Kirsten F. Ward; Robert I. Menzies; Helen E. Quinn; Sue Campbell-Lloyd

doi:10.1071/NB10046

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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School-based vaccination in NSW

Kirsten F. Ward ^A ^D , Robert I. Menzies ^A , Helen E. Quinn ^A ^B and Sue Campbell-Lloyd ^C

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

^B Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Sydney

^C AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch, NSW Department of Health

^D Corresponding author. Email: kirstenw@chw.edu.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 21(10) 237-242 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB10046
Published: 18 November 2010

Abstract

Over the past decade the number of recommended and funded vaccines for adolescents has increased, becoming a substantial part of the National Immunisation Program in Australia. In response, NSW has implemented disease-specific vaccination campaigns for both children and adolescents and more recently established a routine high school-based vaccination program to administer vaccines to this often hard to reach group. This paper outlines the history of school-based vaccination in NSW from its commencement in 1971 to coverage from early disease-specific programs, and describes the implementation of the current program of routine vaccination. Substantial coverage has been achieved across the age spectrum 5–17 years, highlighting the effectiveness of the school-based vaccination program in reaching large numbers of adolescents.

Acknowledgments

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance is supported by The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, the NSW Department of Health and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

We acknowledge the dedication and work of the large number of individuals who have been responsible for the planning and implementation of school-based vaccination in NSW over the years.

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