title: Pneumococcal Vaccine Uptake Among Australian Hajj Pilgrims in 2011-13.
abstract: The uptake of the pneumococcal vaccine is suboptimal in Australia and remains unknown among Australian Hajj pilgrims, many of whom are eligible because of age or underlying disease and at particular risk because of travel and activities at Hajj. Pneumococcal vaccination uptake was examined over three consecutive years (2011 to 2013) through anonymous self-administered cross sectional surveys among Australian pilgrims who assembled in Mina valley, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Respectively, 158, 513 and 219 pilgrims were recruited in 2011, 2012 and 2013; their mean ages were 43.8 (SD±13), 43 (SD±13.5) and 42.6 (SD±12.3) years; males accounted for 67 (42.4%), 325 (63.4%) and 172 (78.5%). Pneumococcal vaccine uptake rates were 28.5% (45/158), 28.7% (147/513) and 14.2% (31/219); among the pilgrims with 'at risk' conditions the pneumococcal vaccine uptake rates were 15 (30.6%), 43 (45.3%) and 9 (29%) respectively. According to our surveys, the pneumococcal vaccine uptake among Australian pilgrims is low. Further research is needed to explore the reasons through a validated study.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Immunisation, Research and Surveillance, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. mohamed.tashani@health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tashani
authors.forename: Osamah
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barasheed
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azeem
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alfelali
authors.forename: Al-Mamoon
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Badahdah
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bokhary
authors.forename: Nedal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Almasri
authors.forename: Jassir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alshehri
authors.forename: Ghassan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matbouly
authors.forename: Nadeen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalantan
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ridda
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haworth
authors.forename: Atif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asghar
authors.forename: Harunor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Booy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines