title: Responding to a measles outbreak in a Pacific island community in western Sydney: community interviews led to church-based immunization clinics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are large Pacific island communities in western and south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. In 2011 and 2012, measles outbreaks disproportionally affected children and youth within these communities. The objectives of this study were to explore barriers to immunization in a Pacific island community from the perspectives of community members and health professionals and to conduct a pilot programme whereby immunization catch-up clinics were held in a Samoan church in western Sydney.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were conducted with Pacific island community members (n = 12) and health professionals connected with the Pacific island community (n = 7) in 2013. A partnership with a local Samoan church was established to provide an accessible venue for immunization catch-up clinics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the community members there were high levels of belief in the importance of immunization and a positive view regarding the protection offered by immunization. A key barrier reported by community members was being busy and therefore having limited time to get children immunized. The important role of the church within the community was emphasized in the interviews, and as a result, two immunization catch-up clinics were held in a Samoan church in western Sydney. The age range of attendees was 7-33 years. A total of 31 measles, mumps and rubella doses and 19 meningococcal C doses were given during the two clinics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes of the interviews and the subsequent clinics highlighted the potential of churches as a venue for providing public health interventions such as catch-up immunization.
authors: New South Wales Public Health Officer Training Program, Ministry of Health, New South Wales, Australia . ; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Scott
authors: Western Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Salwa
authors: S
authors: Gabriel
authors: Health Protection New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Vicky
authors: V
authors: Sheppeard
authors: Western Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Alisa
authors: A
authors: Peacock
authors: Western Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Scott
authors: Western Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Flego
authors: Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Bradley
authors: B
authors: Forssman
authors: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Holly
authors: H
authors: Seale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine