Parental and societal support for adolescent immunization through school based immunization programs

Objectives: Adolescent immunizations such as human papillomavirus vaccine have been implemented through school based immunization programs (SBIPs) in Australia. We assessed community attitudes toward immunization of adolescents though SBIPs. Methods: A cross-sectional population survey of rural and metropolitan households in South Australia in 2011. Univariate and multiple regression analyses identified predictors of support for a SBIP. Results: Participation rate was 57.3% with 1926 adults interviewed. Overall, 75.9% regarded school as the best place to offer adolescent immunizations, with 16.4% preferring the family physician. Parents of high school students were most supportive (88.4%) of a SBIP with 87.9% of their adolescents reported as having participated in the program. Adults 18-34 years (79.4%) were more likely to support a SBIP compared to older adults (68.7% of >55 years) [adjusted OR = 2.39, p= 0.002] and men were more supportive (80.3%) than women (71.7%) [adjusted OR = 1.54, p= 0.003]. Reasons for participation in the SBIP included convenience (39.9%), public funding for the service (32.4%), and confidence in immunization recommendations (21.0%). Conclusions: Public support for the SBIP was very high particularly amongst parents whose adolescent/s had participated in the program.