[Pentavalent vaccine and vaccination coverage in children aged less than one in Colombia 2000-2003].
OBJECTIVE
Determining the impact of including pentavalent vaccine in third-dose immunisation coverage for children aged less than 1 (2002 and 2003) by geographic cluster.


METHODS
This was an ecologic study using department, province, municipality and capital city as analysis units. It compared third-dose coverage, desertion index, number of places having more than 80% immunisation coverage and the number of children being immunised before and after vaccination was introduced. Having more than 80% immunisation coverage was compared to the number of children or places having unsatisfied basic needs, the presence of armed conflict or municipal category.


RESULTS
Immunisation coverage increased from 23% to 26%, mainly for Hib3. Desertion index was 9.3-31.7% in 2000 and 0.3% in 2003. The number of municipalities having more than 80% immunisation coverage increased from 265 in 2000 to 627 in 2003. 462,000-584,000 third-doses were applied in 2000 and 805,000-813,000 in 2003. More municipalities having more than 80% coverage had high unsatisfied basic needs, low socioeconomic income or conflict.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of the vaccine affected immunisation coverage. Financing should be sought for the vaccine to ensure its continuity and to implement studies for new vaccines or introducing combination vaccines.
Rojas-Sotelo
Jaid C
JC
Ministerio de la Protección Social. jaidrojas@yahoo.com
Prieto-Alvarado
Franklyn E
FE
D003105:Colombia; D003906:Developing Countries; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005381:Financing, Organized; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D014944:World Health Organization / Q000191:economics
D017778:Vaccines, Combined