New Zealand Survey Of Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Children’s Health

In 1992, the New Zealand Immunisation Awareness Society (IAS – now WavesNZ) conducted a survey on the health and vaccination status of New Zealand children. The questionnaires were distributed through IAS members and members’ friends and associates. Such studies normally have inherent biases. In this study almost all the children were breastfed and babies were generally breastfed for longer than the majority of New Zealand babies.

Many of the families surveyed included both vaccinated and unvaccinated children, suggesting that the parents developed an awareness of vaccination issues over time. However, many of the respondents were not members of IAS and the split between vaccinated and unvaccinated children was remarkably even. A total of 245 surveys were returned, representing 245 families, with a total of 495 children surveyed. There were 226 vaccinated children and 269 unvaccinated children. The ages ranged from two weeks to 46 years. There were 273 males and 216 females. Families from throughout the country responded. These were the preliminary results:

VaccinatedVersusUnvaccinated