Concerns for children remain despite rise in vaccination rates

Childhood vaccination rates are at record levels, but concern remains that some parents are not ensuring their children are fully protected.

New immunisation uptake figures from the HSE show that 8% of children have not received the recommended doses of the ‘six-in-one vaccine’ by their first birthday.

The vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemopphilus influenzae type B (Hib) (prevents meningitis, pneumonia, and other serious infections) and hepatitis B.

At four to five years of age, 10% of children have not received the ‘four-in-one’ vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio.

The report by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre also shows 11% have not received a dose of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

While 96% of two-year-olds are appropriately vaccinated with the six-in-one vaccine, some are missing out on other vaccines at this age.

After 12 months of age, only 86% to 91% of children have received the Hib, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), which protects against meningitis and septicaemia, and MenC, which protects against meningococcal C disease.

West Cork, at 78% for both Hib and MenC, had the lowest uptake for these vaccinations.

The vaccinations are important, as an additional dose is needed to prolong the immune response to the vaccine. Without it, the children are at a higher risk.

The information, published yesterday to mark European Immunisation Week, also shows a marked regional variation in the uptake of the MMR vaccine, ranging from 90% to 96% in children.

“As measles is highly infectious, ensuring that all children get one dose of MMR at 12 months is extremely important,” the HSE advises.

Two vaccines are recommended for children at the time of school entry — the booster dose of the four-in-one and a dose of MMR, usually a second one.

HPSC public health specialist Suzanne Cotter said while it was welcome that more children than ever were appropriately vaccinated, it was important parents ensured their children had completed the childhood immunisation schedule.

“Some children, teen-agers, and adults may still be vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases because they were never vaccinated, incompletely vaccinated or have lost their immunity as a result of age or illness or duration of time that has elapsed since their immunisation,” said Dr Cotter.

She said, for some vaccines, booster doses might be needed after a period of time to counteract waning immunity.

www.immunisation.ie

Child minding

- 93% of two-year-olds got the MMR vaccine.

- 92% of one-year-olds have received the recommended three doses of the six-in-one vaccine at age 12 months.

- 96% of two-year-olds have received with the six-in-one vaccine but some are missing out on other vaccines.

- 93% of two-year-olds have had the MMR vaccine, a marked improvement on previous years.

- 90% of children aged four to five years have received the recommended four-in-one vaccine, while 89% have received a dose of MMR.

- The HSE Midland area reached the target uptake rate of 95% for all vaccines for children aged 12 months.

- West Cork, part of the HSE Southern area, had the lowest immunisation uptake at 12 months with rates between 85% and 90% for vaccinations.