title: Analysis of factors influencing vaccine uptake: perspectives from Belgium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the infant vaccination coverage in Belgium, a random cluster sample according to the expanded program on immunization (EPI) cluster sampling technique was performed in 1999 in the Flemish (Flanders) and French (Wallonia) speaking community of Belgium. The objective was to document the infant vaccination coverage retrospectively in 18-24-month-old children. In addition, the study offered the opportunity to assess some factors influencing vaccine uptake in infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Flemish community infant vaccination coverage could not be associated with any of the socio-demographic factors, with two exceptions: the province (county) and the hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination. The main reason for not complying with the vaccination schedule was mainly carelessness on either parent's or physician's side. In the French speaking community parents feel mostly themselves responsible for the non-vaccination or incomplete vaccination of their child, except for pertussis. For all vaccines, the attitude of the physician is mentioned as being very influential in the decision to vaccinate a child. Most of the socio-demographic factors showed no association with the infant vaccination coverage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The surveys in Flanders and Wallonia stress the importance of having information made available, and underline the role parents as well as physicians (and nurses) play in the infant immunization coverage.
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, B-1070, Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swennen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vellinga
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Coppieters
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Depoorter
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines