Australia’s active hospital-based surveillance for severe childhood disease
A new study, led by PhD candidate Samantha Carlson, was published in Vaccine this week. This study aimed to understand the attitudes about and access to influenza vaccination experienced by parents of children hospitalised for influenza.
In 2018, we undertook a pilot survey with 75 parents whose children had been hospitalised for influenza. The study analyses the influenza vaccination knowledge and behaviours of parents of children who were hospitalised for influenza, and provides insight on strategies that could be introduced to improve vaccine coverage.
Lessons learned from the pilot were incorporated into a larger study which commenced in April 2019. Parents of children hospitalised for acute respiratory infections, who either test positive or negative to influenza, are being invited to participate. Results will be used to determine a causal pathway of under or no influenza vaccination. This study is being conducted under the PAEDS Partnership Project, which is funded by the NHMRC. The PAEDS Partnership Project aims to reduce vaccine preventable diseases in children using national active hospital-based surveillance to evaluate and improve immunisation program performance.