Home vaccination for children behind in their immunisation schedule: a randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveTo ascertain the effectiveness of a home vaccination service for children behind in their vaccination schedule. DesignRandomised controlled trial of nurse‐administered vaccination at home. Children were allocated at random to the intervention or the control group before any contact with the parents was made. Setting10 council areas in north‐west metropolitan Melbourne defined by 56 postcode zones. Six‐week intervention period from November 1996. Participants405 children ‐ all those in the study area (n=2610) 90 days late (age 9 months) for their third diphtheria‐tetanus‐pertussis/poliomyelitis/Haemophi/us influenzaetype B (DTP/OPV/Hib) vaccination, or 120 days late (age 16 months) for their measles‐mumps‐rubella (MMR) vaccination, according to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register. Main outcome measuresNumber of children completing DTP/OPV/Hib or MMR during the intervention period, and number up to date before intervention. ResultsVerification of vaccination status with the parents revealed that 123 (60%) of the children in the intervention group and 113 (56%) of those in the control group were up to date with their vaccinations, leaving a study population of 81 (intervention group) and 88 (control group). ConclusionHome vaccination for children behind in their immunisation schedule is an effective, acceptable and relatively cheap method of completing recommended vaccinations. We recommend that a home vaccination program be widely implemented and made available, particularly for disadvantaged families.