title: Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination in Australia: an examination of barriers and arguments in support of the hospital based approach.
abstract: Pneumococcal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, arguably responsible worldwide for more deaths than any other single pathogen. Despite the severe impact of pneumococcal disease and the availability of a safe, efficacious and cost-effective vaccine, vaccination rates have generally remained far below targets. Since 2005 a publicly funded program offering free pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for at-risk patients has been implemented in Australia, and early data suggest that this change has had a major positive impact on pneumococcal vaccination rates. However, rates still remain far below the ideal. A literature review identified physician related factors as the major impediment to raising vaccination rates and the use of hospital based vaccination strategies as a potentially useful response.
authors.affiliation: The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. cmot5383@mail.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Motbey
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines