Raguindin PF, Morales-Dizon M, Aldaba J, Mangulabnan LP, Reyes RP, Batmunkh N, Ducusin MJ, Lopez AL. Timeliness of childhood vaccinations in the Philippines.
J Public Health Policy 2021;
42:53-70. [PMID:
33398056 PMCID:
PMC7979588 DOI:
10.1057/s41271-020-00255-w]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Timeliness of vaccinations is rarely part of monitoring in a routine immunization program. We reviewed infant immunization and conducted caregiver interviews in three regions in the Philippines from January to October 2016. We randomly selected thirty public health centers, one for each region. We defined timeliness of the receipt of antigen as within 4 weeks after the recommended age at vaccination. We assessed a total of 986 infants for timeliness of vaccination. The median age of receipt of vaccine was at 2.7 weeks (BCG), 10.1 weeks (Penta 1), and 21.7 weeks (Penta 3) compared to the recommended 0, 6, and 14 weeks of age, respectively. We found timely receipt only in 74.4% for BCG, 70.3% for Penta 1, and 39.1% for Penta 3 recipients. Thus, alongside declining immunization coverage, the infants in the Philippines had substantial delays in vaccine receipt.
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