Q fever vaccine uptake in South Australian meat processors prior to the introduction of the National Q Fever Management Program.
Despite the availability of a vaccine, the incidence of Q fever disease among populations at risk continues to be high. Q fever is an important cause of morbidity for workers, particularly in the meat and agricultural industries. Following an increase in 1998 in the number of Q fever notifications among meat processors to the Communicable Disease Control Branch, South Australia, a survey was conducted in the same year to assess the uptake of Q fever immunisation programs in meat processors and to identify barriers to offering these programs. This survey was conducted prior to the introduction of the National Q Fever Management Program in 2001 that provided a targeted vaccination program to specific at-risk occupations. The results of the survey highlighted that very few meat processors in South Australia offered a Q fever immunisation program to their workers. More importantly, this article highlights that there was a wide variety of attitudes and beliefs about Q fever disease and its prevention. These attitudes and beliefs have the potential to impact on whether workers at risk are offered or seek Q fever vaccination. Previous attitudes may return and levels of protection in at-risk occupations will decrease without a concerted effort at a state level. A replication of this study should benchmark the prevailing attitudes about Q fever programs. In response to the 1998 survey a number of strategies and initiatives were developed to address the barriers to Q fever vaccination in South Australian meat processors. The National Q Fever Management Program (2001-2005) further enhanced the ability to address barriers such as vaccine cost.
Milazzo
Adriana
A
Communicable Disease Control Branch, Department of Health, Adelaide, South Australia. adriana.milazzo@health.sa.gov.au
Featherstone
Kathryn B
KB
Hall
Robert G
RG
D000003:Abattoirs; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011778:Q Fever / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines