The three-in-one vaccination programme is failing, according to recent figures for the number of babies immunised, a vaccines seminar has been told. Dr Peter Harrington, regional quality assurance and research fellow with the Irish College of College Practitioners, said the figures made "disappointing reading", with a national average of little more than 70 per cent.
Dr Harrington said it was unclear whether this represented a failure by GPs to immunise or a failure by health boards to measure performance accurately . He was critical of failings at both levels.
It was hard to believe that many health boards admitted being unable to give accurate figures at the end of the second year of the scheme. "There is ample evidence that reminder notices improve immunisation uptake by prompting mothers who want to immunise that a vaccine is due." "Most GPs at present receive no list of babies due vaccines and no feedback on their own performance or that of their peers," Dr Harrington said at the annual vaccines seminar organised by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association.
It seemed clear, he said, that many health boards did not have the information technology systems to meet their contractual requirements. "Despite huge investment in the computerisation of GPs, it is still not possible to send immunisation data downline. Such a development must become a priority."
He criticised the failure of some GPs to send returns on the number of babies immunised with the three-in-one for diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. It was a breach of the contract covering immunisations as well as a "threat to the integrity of the whole scheme".
Dr Harrington said the nation al target of 95 per cent was "laudable" but also daunting for many doctors, particularly those working in disadvantaged areas.