Ethnicity as a correlate of the uptake of the first dose of mumps, measles and rubella vaccine

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a relationship exists between ethnicity and uptake of the first dose of mumps, measles and rubella (MMR1) vaccination, and to study important factors influencing the parental decision about vaccination. Examination of routine data on uptake of MMR1 vaccine among children living in the London borough of Brent, North West London, for associations with ethnicity was carried out. Six focus group interviews were held and a questionnaire on factors related to immunisation by convenience samples of mothers from Asian, Afro-Caribbean and White backgrounds was completed. The routine data reported MMR1 vaccine status for 6444 children living in Brent who were aged between 18 months and 3 years on 1 December 2003. A total of 37 mothers took part in the 6 focus group sessions. Significantly higher coverage by MMR1 vaccine in the Asian population (87.1%) compared with AfroCaribbeans (74.7%) and the White group (57.5%) was noticed. The qualitative data revealed clear differences between the ethnic groups with respect to awareness of the controversy surrounding MMR vaccination (related to use of English-language media) and influence of grandparents and health professionals in decisions about immunisation. A multiple logistic regression model showed that although coverage of MMR vaccination increased with increasing socioeconomic status, there was no evidence of a statistically significant interaction between socioeconomic status and ethnicity. An important association between ethnicity and uptake of MMR1 vaccine is observed. This has implications for efforts to improve the currently inadequate levels of MMR vaccination across the population as a whole.

Inequalities in immunisation and breast feeding in an ethnically diverse urban area: cross-sectional study in Manchester, UK

“…The poor coding of ethnic group in routinely collected data sources is a common problem for research in the UK 20 16 15. In the time period covered by this study (2002–2007) almost a third of entries on the Child Health System database were incomplete for ethnicity (9846/31 521).…”

The Swiss National Vaccination Coverage Survey, 2005–2007

“…Research by Mixer et al confirmed that awareness of the controversy surrounding MMR vaccination was higher among white mothers whose toddlers had lower MMR coverage, as compared with mothers of other racial/ethnic minority groups whose children had higher MMR coverage. 34 There was no difference for 16-year-olds, as we see that logistic problems and access to health service may be barriers to being fully immunized. Furthermore, many of these children of foreign background do not have their vaccination records from their native country, although some have said that they were fully vaccinated before coming to Switzerland.…”

Vacinação contra rubéola em mulheres em idade reprodutiva no Município de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

“…Estudos apontam maior cobertura vacinal contra sarampo, caxumba e rubéola em crianças de famílias com maior renda 17,18,19 . Aspectos culturais e étnicos também estiveram associados a diferenças de coberturas vacinais contra sarampo, caxumba e rubéola em crianças, em países europeus 20,21 . Como todas as vacinas de vírus atenuado, a da rubéola é contraindicada durante a gestação pelo risco teórico de causar danos ao feto, embora nunca se tenha registrado efeitos teratogêni-cos 22 , ou em qualquer situação de imunossupressão ou alergia a componentes da vacina.…”