Introduction
Public Health Ontario has released the latest estimates for immunization coverage and ISPA-antigen exemptions at the Health Unit level. The following is a brief summary of the key findings relevant to Windsor and Essex County (WEC).
Key Findings for WEC (2017/18 School Year)
Comparison to the province (see Figures 1 and 2)
- Immunization coverage rates for children in WEC for ISPA-designated diseases were similar to or higher than Ontario
- ISPA designated diseases: measles; mumps; pertussis; polio; rubella; tetanus; diphtheria; meningococcal diseases; and varicella
- Coverage rates for all except one non-ISPA designated disease were similar to or higher than Ontario
- Non-ISPA designated diseases that were assessed include: pneumococcal disease, haemophilus influenza type b; human papilloma virus; hepatitis B
- Coverage for Haemophilus influenza type b was 2.4% lower in WEC than Ontario (80.0% in WEC and 82.4% in Ontario).
Comparison to the national goal
- Coverage estimates in 7-year olds only met the national goal of 95% for two diseases (meningococcal disease and rubella). There is no national goal for varicella.
- Coverage estimates in 12-year olds for diseases covered by the school-based immunization program did not meet the national goal of 90%.
- Coverage estimates in 17-year olds met the national goal for measles, mumps, rubella and tetanus. The national goal for measles, mumps, rubella and polio is 95%. The national goal for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis is 90%
Change from the 2013/14 school year
7-year olds (see Figure 3)
- Coverage in 7-year olds for ISPA-designated diseases has improved from 2013/14. The percentage point difference varies by disease and ranges from:
- less than a 1.0% increase in coverage for measles, mumps and rubella;
- 10.1% to 13.2% increase for pertussis polio, tetanus, diphtheria, and meningococcal disease; and
- 53.6% increase for varicella
- Coverage in 7-year olds for non-ISPA designated diseases has declined:
- 4.9% decrease in coverage for pneumococcal disease. Coverage has decreased year-to-year for three of the last four school years.
- 5.0% decrease in coverage for haemophilus influenza type b
12-year olds (see Figure 4)
- Coverage in 12-year olds for meningococcal disease has increased by 3.1%
- Coverage in 12-year olds for non-ISPA designated diseases have varied:
- 2.1% decrease for hepatitis B
- 1.0% decrease for HPV
- The lower coverage estimates for these diseases may be due to their non-ISPA designation. The health unit does not actively collect immunization records for these diseases.
17-year olds (see Figure 4)
- Coverage in 17-year olds for ISPA-designated diseases has varied:
- 1.3% and 2.1% increase for measles and mumps, respectively
- 0.3% and 0.5% decrease for polio and rubella, respectively
- 36.2% to 37.3% increase for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus
Exemptions for at least one ISPA antigen (see Figure 5)
- The proportion of students with medical and non-medical exemptions was relatively low. Only 0.3% of 7-year olds and 0.2% of 17-year olds had a medical exemption for at least one ISPA antigen. These proportions were similar to that of Ontario.
- The proportion of students with a non-medical exemption was slightly higher. 3.4% of 7-year olds and 2.6% of 17-year olds had a non-medical exemption for at least one ISPA antigen. The proportion of 7-year olds with a non-medical exemption was slightly higher than Ontario (0.6% higher).
Figure 1. Immunization coverage estimates for 7-year olds: WEC and Ontario (2017/18 school year)
Figure 2. Immunization coverage estimates for 12 and 17-year olds: WEC and Ontario (2017/18 school year)
Figure 3. Immunization coverage estimates for 7-year olds: WEC (2013/14 to 2017/18 school years)
Figure 4. Immunization coverage estimates for 12 and 17-year olds: WEC (2013/14 to 2017/18 school years)
Figure 5. Exemption for at least one ISPA antigen: WEC and Ontario (2017/18 school year))
