Exploring Communication Barriers and Facilitators in School Vaccination: A Case Study in South Eastern Sydney, Australia.

Background/

Objectives

Given the discrepancies in immunisation coverage, the goal of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to effective communication across the school-based vaccination program in South Eastern Sydney schools.

Methods

A qualitative study was undertaken with purposively selected immunisation staff, school coordinators, and parents of Year 7 students who had not received two vaccinations (dTpa and HPV) at school. A focus group with immunisation staff and interviews with school coordinators explored the barriers and facilitators to vaccination uptake, including communication across stakeholders. The parent interviews explored attitudes to vaccination and the school program and investigated the program communication methods.

Results

Five immunisation staff, eleven school coordinators, and eleven parents participated in the study. The barriers to participation in the school vaccination program included low parent recall of vaccination information, challenges encountered by school staff in consent tracking, no communication channel between health staff and parents, a greater school focus on vaccination facilitation than student education, and limited communication between stakeholders about catch-up vaccinations. The facilitators included established school/parent relationships for vaccine communication, effective communication between health and school staff, and using multiple methods to promote clinic and consent requirements.

Conclusions

Opportunities exist to increase program participation by enhancing vaccination information and education for students and parents, with better communication about vaccination catch-ups and consent.