IMMUNIZATION STATUS AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW-ZEALAND INFANTS AT 1 YEAR AND 2 YEARS OF AGE

Aims. To ascertain the immunisation status of a cohort of infants at 1 year and 2 years of age. Methods. The Plunket National Child Health S tudy is a longitudinal study of 4286 New Zealand children, based on an ethnically stratified and geographically representative sample of chi ldren born between 2 July 1990 and 30 June 1991. The immunisation stat us of these children was examined at 1 year and 2 years of age. Result s. By 1 year and 2 years of age, 92.5% and 83.3%, respectively, had re ceived all their age appropriate immunisations. Children who were inco mpletely immunised at 2 years of age were more likely to have mothers who were of high parity, or had higher or lower levels of education, o r who had a later initial attendance at the doctor for this pregnancy, or who did not attend antenatal classes. The most common reason why i mmunisations had been delayed was because of ill health (of the childr en) at the time of the immunisation. Only 1.4% had had no immunisation s at all by 2 years of age. Conclusions. This study challenges the wid ely held views that New Zealand has a poor child heath immunisation re cord, and that antiimmunisation beliefs are widespread. New Zealand ne eds systems in place which give current immunisation rates rather than relying on point prevalence or retrospective studies. Information abo ut contraindications to immunisation needs to be reinforced with immun isation providers and advisors, and parents.