Vaccine Uptake in the Irish Travelling Community: An audit of general practice records

Abstract

${\bf Background}$ Compared to the general population, the Traveller community has substantial health inequalities. Vaccination coverage in Traveller children is estimated to be low and Travellers are at higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases due to their social circumstances.

${\bf Methods}$ Audit of vaccination history of Traveller ($\textit{n=214}$) and non-Traveller ($\textit{n=776}$) children registered at a General Practice in England. The Green Book childhood immunisation schedule was used as a reference standard.

${\bf Results}$ There was significantly lower coverage for Traveller children compared to non-Traveller children for all vaccinations in the routine childhood immunisation schedule. The percentage of children completing the schedule at all time points was significantly lower in the Traveller community.

${\bf Conclusions}$ Traveller communities have significantly lower uptake of vaccinations and therefore Travellers’ children should be targeted by GPs for catch-up vaccination to improve outcomes for individuals and local herd immunity.