Getting it right--the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and immunisation rates in south-eastern Sydney.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the completeness of ACIR data for south-eastern Sydney children at 12 to d 12 to hs listed as overdue on the ACIR011A report- December 2001- by contacting the last immunisation provider or the parents. RESULTS: From the 470 children listed as overdue- 162 children were systematically selected to form the study group. Seventeen were lost to follow-up and results are available for 145 children. Eighty children were up to date (69- encounter forms incorrect or not sent/ 11- vaccinated overseas) and 11 children had moved overseas. Fifty-four children were overdue (30- provider error due to incorrect Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) schedule or Hib vaccine omitted/ 18 did not complete schedule/ 6 conscientious objectors). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that between 6-9% of children on the register were likely to be overdue- whereas the ACIR011A report identified 19%. Failure of immuni