title: Immunisation of a cohort Pacific children living in New Zealand over the first 2 years of life.
abstract: Pacific children have had consistently evidenced low rates for routine childhood immunisations. Using the Pacific Islands Families: First 2 Years of Life cohort study, we investigated the immunisation rate of Pacific infants residing in New Zealand at 24-months postpartum. Full immunisation was reported for 89% of infants, substantially increased from the 53% found in the 1992 national survey and closer to the New Zealand Ministry of Health's target of 95%. Increased parity and maternal smoking were associated with incomplete child immunisation status. Initiatives to increase immunisation rates amongst Pacific children appear to be succeeding and warrant continuation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, New Zealand. janis.paterson@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: Janis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schluter
authors.forename: Teuila
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Percival
authors.forename: Sarnia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009520:New Zealand