University of Twente Student Theses
Optimisation of the mass vaccination program for nine-year-old school children.
Morssink, A.J. (2018) Optimisation of the mass vaccination program for nine-year-old school children.
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| Abstract: | Background: Immunisation is one of the most lifesaving and cost-effective health protection intervention. High immunisation rates among children ensure that complications and possible early death as much as possible is prevented by reducing the spread of common childhood diseases to protect the health of not only the individual but also the herd immunity. In the Netherlands, the second dose of the MMR and third dose of the DTP vaccines are given at the age of nine in mass vaccination. A number of studies have been carried out to research the factors related to the individual decision making. Still, there is a difference among the vaccination rates from the infants and toddlers campaign. The same trend of vaccination rates, lower for school children than for infants and toddlers, is also visible in Twente. The biggest difference between the vaccination program of children, age category 0-4, and the vaccination program of the nine-year old, is the design of the organisation. Objective: The main objective of this study is to give recommendations to the GGD to optimise the organisational part of the vaccination program for nine-year olds with resulting in higher vaccination rates. Method: An exploratory study was carried out consisting of a document analysis, mini-literature review and qualitative research. Literature from various sources is combined in the document analysis to investigate how the current vaccination program is being organised in the Netherlands. The mini-literature review was done to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the current vaccination program and which recommendations are given for improvement of the organisation. The qualitative research consisted of interviews with healthcare professionals (N = 6) to give their opinion on the organisation of the national immunisation program and recommendations for improvement. Results: According to the literature and the healthcare professionals conflicting priorities, patient experience and forgetfulness are the most important barriers why parents do not show up at the mass vaccination sessions. A more tailored approach should help to raise the vaccination rates. Conclusion: This research provides recommendations for the GGD to optimise the mass vaccination program. Three implementation changes in terms of convenience are recommended. First provide parents with options outside the traditional vaccination hours. Secondly, change the mass vaccination sessions into smaller one to one vaccination sessions or at least smaller mass vaccination sessions given at the location of the GGD. Thirdly, make use of a good recall/remind system to help remember the parents of the mass vaccination sessions. The outcome of this research is the basis for future studies to uptake the vaccination rates for nine-year old schoolchildren in the Netherlands. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | TNW: Science and Technology |
| Subject: | 44 medicine |
| Programme: | Health Sciences MSc (66851) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/75674 |
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