Bhisho bungles vaccination data

Data on how many babies in the Eastern Cape are vaccinated is incorrect and significantly over-estimates the number of children who get the jab, a new study found.

Children receive vaccinations for diseases including whooping cough, measles, polio and TB.

Lead author of the study, Anne-Marie Jamin, from the University of Alberta in Canada said: "We knew from an initial review of the national data that there were problems with the figures because five sub-districts reported that they had immunised more than 100% of the children in their catchment area - which is, of course, impossible."

Researchers and funders were approached by the Eastern Cape health department to study clinics after realising the vaccination data was incorrect.

"The province cannot intervene in rural areas to improve vaccinations if the information available does not reveal the actual situation," Jamin said.

For the study - published in the new journal Strengthening Health Systems - Jamin and Eastern Cape medical officials audited clinics in two provincial districts.

"One clinic reported a 358% vaccination rate . In fact 1.4% of kids in the area were vaccinated."

One problem is that nurses write down information in notebooks or pieces of paper, instead of in a health register.

"The issue was a lack of support and accountability, and also health registers, which are necessary to accurately manage data, particularly in rural areas," Jamin said.

Due to the reluctance of a handful of extremists who refuse to vaccinate their children for measles, the US has recorded its highest number of cases of the disease since 1994.