Parent and general practitioner preferences for infant immunisation. Reactogenicity or multiple injections?
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relative importance parents and general practitioners place on less reactogenic vaccines and multiple injections at each childhood immunisation encounter.


METHODS
A random sample of western Sydney parents (n = 162) and GPs (n = 154) completed telephone questionnaires about their preference for either a single injection of pentavalent vaccine (whole-cell pertussis/diphtheria/tetanus/Hib/hepatitis B), or regimen containing the less reactogenic acellular pertussis vaccine requiring two separate injections (acellular pertussis/diphtheria/tetanus and Hib or three separate injections (acellular pertussis/diphtheria/tetanus and Hib and hepatitis B). Potential confounders were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
Regimens containing acellular pertussis vaccine (2 injections or 3 injections) were preferred by 72% and 58% of parents respectively. Those whose children were already vaccinated were less concerned about side effects and were twice (or = 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-4.0) as likely to select the pentavalent (single injection) option. 69% and 77% of GPs preferred the pentavalent rather than the two or three injection acellular option, although previous experience with a systemic adverse reaction to immunisation increased their preference for the acellular pertussis vaccine (or = 2.9, 95% CI 1.1-7.6). Only 54% of parents and 28% of GPs favoured three injections at one visit.


CONCLUSIONS
Parent and GP concerns regarding reactogenicity and multiple injections differ. Parents are more concerned about vaccine reactogenicity than multiple injections. However, if the GP recommends a particular regimen, it is likely to be accepted by parents.
Bartlett
M J
MJ
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Sydney.
Burgess
M A
MA
McIntyre
P B
PB
Heath
T C
TC
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010290:Parents; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011897:Random Allocation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects