Community awareness and predictors of uptake of pertussis booster vaccine in South Australian adults

Michelle Clarke; Natalie Thomas; Lynne Giles; Helen Marshall

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.10.068

Community awareness and predictors of uptake of pertussis booster vaccine in South Australian adults

Vaccine. 2015 Dec 16;33(51):7337-7343. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.10.068. Epub 2015 Oct 26.

Authors

Michelle Clarke¹, Natalie Thomas², Lynne Giles³, Helen Marshall⁴

Affiliations

¹ Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia. Electronic address: michelle.clarke@adelaide.edu.au.
² Previously employed at Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia.
³ School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia.
⁴ Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia.

PMID: 26514422
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.10.068

Abstract

Objective: Pertussis is a highly virulent vaccine preventable disease that remains a global challenge. This study aimed to assess community knowledge of pertussis infection as well as awareness and uptake of adult pertussis booster vaccine.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of randomly selected households in South Australia by Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews in 2011. Survey data were weighted to the age, gender and geographical area profile of the population.

Results: From 3124 randomly sampled contactable households, 1967 interviews were conducted (participation rate 63%) with individuals aged 18-93 years, including 608 parents of children aged <18 years. The majority of respondents (97%) had heard of pertussis (whooping cough) and 18% reported that a household member had previously contracted whooping cough infection. Most respondents considered whooping cough to be highly contagious (73%) and severe for infants (89%). Over half (51%) of those surveyed were aware that family members commonly transmit pertussis to infants. Despite high knowledge, pertussis vaccine uptake was low, with only 10% of respondents reporting pertussis vaccination in the previous five years. Whilst 61% of respondents were aware of the availability of an adult pertussis booster vaccine, only 8% (n=154) reported their Family Physician had discussed it with them. If provided free, 77% agreed that they would be more likely to accept a booster pertussis vaccination. Independent predictors of recent pertussis vaccination included higher education, larger household size, perception of greater disease severity for infants and discussion with a Family Physician about pertussis vaccination.

Conclusions: Whilst knowledge regarding transmission and severity of Bordetella pertussis was high, uptake of pertussis vaccination for adults is remarkably low amongst the South Australian community. Improved awareness regarding the availability of a booster pertussis vaccine through Family Physicians and/or provision of funded pertussis vaccination for adults has the potential to improve pertussis vaccine coverage.

Keywords: Community awareness; Knowledge; Pertussis; Vaccination; Vaccine; Whooping cough.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control*
Family Characteristics
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Immunization, Secondary / statistics & numerical data*
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
Pertussis Vaccine / administration & dosage*
South Australia / epidemiology
Whooping Cough / epidemiology*
Whooping Cough / prevention & control*
Whooping Cough / transmission
Young Adult

Substances

Pertussis Vaccine