RDC News: June 2016

Saturday Hours in June - ON DEMAND

For the month of June we will be instituting on-demand Saturday hours. Please let the Analysts know if you wish to work in the RDC on any of the following Saturdays. We will be open on an 'appointment' basis. You can email Anna at rdc3@mcmaster.ca, or write your name on the sign-up sheet by the front door in the RDC. OPEN SATURDAY Possible dates for Saturday hours are:

• Saturday, June 4th-1 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday, June 1 1 th-12pm to 4pm
• Saturday, June 1 8th-12pm to 4pm
• Saturday, June 25th-12pm to 4pm

New data sets at the RDC:
In the upcoming weeks we will be receiving new data sets and surveys at the McMaster Research Data Centre. Please see the information below. Researchers interested in accessing these data sets are encouraged to submit proposals!

Childhood National Immunization Coverage (CNICS) - 2013 

A new data cycle for the Childhood National Immunization Coverage (CNICS) has just been released; information for 2013 is now available. The CNICS is a cross-sectional survey that collects information on national immunization coverage for childhood vaccines. This data determines if children are immunized according to the recommended vaccine schedule. National immunization coverage rates are also passed along to the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization. It also assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness that parents have of vaccines by asking questions on the challenges faced trying to keep vaccinations up-to-date, reasons they decided not to vaccinate, and their main sources of vaccine information. For example, parents are asked the reasons that their child has not received immunizations. Some response options include: no access to health care, concerns about vaccine safety, too many vaccines are requires, vaccines are not effective, they have philosophical objections, or religious reasons. Vaccine safety beliefs and ratings on the importance of vaccinating for specific diseases are also captured. Data is collected via parental report and validated by immunization record request forms used to collect data from health care providers. Two survey weights are provided - one to calculate immunization coverage rate and the other to analyze parental knowledge and attitudes.

Those interested in the health of children and youth, disease prevention, and vaccine attitudes might find this a very useful and interesting data set. Further information can be found on the CNICS page at the Statistics Canada website