Edinburgh Napier University

  BACKGROUND:
Childhood immunisation is a complex area in the research literature with a number of contributing influences. Within Edinburgh Community Health Partnership (CHP), recent figures indicated that there was great geographical variety for immunisations and uptake rates. While initial primary immunisations were high, uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) did not always meet expected targets (e.g. Health Protection Newsletter, April, 2008).

AIMS OF EXERCISE:
- To review the current literature on childhood immunisations.
- To explore the views and experiences of relevant stakeholders (parents, health staff and key management) for current childhood immunisation services across Edinburgh.
- To identify potential facilitators and barriers towards childhood immunisations that may affect uptake rates.

KEY MESSAGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Lay beliefs about immunisation could be addressed
- Communication and rapport for immunisation is important
- There is conflict between public health issues versus the financial model in current services
- Increased parental choice about immunisation services delivery is needed
- Developing confidence and skills in health staff is necessary for the delivery of childhood immunisations after informed consent
- Greater public health campaigns are needed concerning the value of vaccinations
- Greater support was requested by health staff for complex schedules
- Government policies and vaccine shortages were held to be unsatisfactory amongst health staff
- From a local Edinburgh context, this work has wider relevance for the national immunisation campaigns.