Vaccination status of under-5s in northern Gazankulu, 1985.

An assessment of the immunisation status of children under the age of 5 years in the Elim health ward was undertaken in September 1985. A modified EPI technique for random cluster sampling was used. The advantages of this modification are discussed. In total, 480 children were selected. Of these, 83.5% possessed a 'Road to Health' card, 93.5% had had 3 or 4 doses of DPT vaccine, 92.1% had had 3 or 4 doses of polio vaccine, and 84.3% had had 1 dose of measles vaccine. The percentage of children of 18 months and older who received a fourth dose of either DPT or polio vaccine was 65.9% and 68.5% respectively. The vaccination status of younger children is better than that of older children and this is probably due to recent improvements in the vaccination services. It is recommended that the proportion of children who receive a fourth dose of DPT and polio vaccine should be increased and that completed vaccination is made an entrance requirement for primary schools.