What Doctors Don't Tell YouA recent study at the Department of Paediatrics at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester found that one sixth of children coming to hospital of a population of 296 were behind in their immunization schedules (three courses of DTP and polio, and one of the MMR).
The study found that it was easy and effective to conduct “opportunistic immunizations” on this “captive” audience that is, to give them the jab while they were staying in hospital.The study suggested that this kind of ward immunization could be widely taken up by trained nursing staff, who might be able to counsel, gain consent and administer the shot itself. This approach could improve the current take up rate, but the authors say nothing about the possible effects of vaccinating ill children.
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
