• Mark F Harris, Vana Webster, Bin Jalaludin, Lisa R Jackson Pulver, and Elizabeth Jean Comino.
• Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• J Paediatr Child Health. 2014 Apr 1; 50 (4): 306-13.

AimThe aim of this study is to examine the age-appropriate immunisation coverage and the factors associated with this in a cohort of Aboriginal infants in an outer urban Sydney community in comparison with non-Aboriginal infants in this community.MethodsData on immunisation coverage were extracted from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register for a birth cohort of 178 Aboriginal and 356 non-Aboriginal infants born in Campbelltown between October 2005 and May 2007. Non-Aboriginal infants were matched on birthdates and gender. Data on maternal socio-economic and other characteristics were collected by questionnaire.ResultsAustralian Childhood Immunisation Register records were identified for 92% of infants. Immunisation rates of Aboriginal infants were comparable with those of non-Aboriginal infants except for delay at 4 and 6 months. Rates of delay in immunisation at 12 and 18 months for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants were similar. Young maternal age and higher parity were both associated with a greater likelihood of delay.ConclusionsImmunisation rates in this population of Aboriginal infants are comparable to those of non-Aboriginal infants except for delay in immunisation at 4 and 6 months. Identified risk factors for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants may be amenable to intervention. Strategies to ensure timely compliance with immunisation schedules in this outer urban community have achieved reasonable immunisation coverage for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants.© 2013 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2013 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).

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