AN EVALUATION OF SCHOOL ENTRY IMMUNIZATION CERTIFICATES IN VICTORIA

We evaluated legislation introduced into Victoria in 1991 requiring th at all children enrolling in primary school certify their immunisation status. Information was requested from all local councils. All primar y schools in two local government areas were followed up, providing an indication of the validity of the analysis obtained from data collect ed during the mid-year census. From 166 of 210 local councils in Victo ria, 48 422 documents relating to school entry immunisation certificat es were issued for children entering their preparatory year. At least 522 children were enrolled in school on an undertaking to complete imm unisation, and were likely to have had their immunisation completed as a result of the legislation. Only 170 statutory declarations of consc ientious objection to immunisation were made, indicating that few pare nts are willing to express firm anti-vaccine sentiments. Compliance wi th the immunisation certificate legislation is overestimated by the mi d-year census because many schools have accepted nonstatutory evidence of immunisation. Mobile and immigrant families find it particularly d ifficult to achieve certification. Local councils are inconsistent in the way in which they issue certificates. Further follow-up and feedba ck is essential to better inform schools and parents about the legisla tion. Such follow-up can improve the certification rates of children t hen and in subsequent years. The legislation has imposed a considerabl e workload on councils, but without efforts to improve compliance with the legislation and to develop practical guidelines for documentation of immunisation and appropriate guidelines regarding transfer, many i nadequately immunised children may remain at risk from vaccine-prevent able diseases.