Influenza vaccination coverage and related factors among Spanish children.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain anti-influenza vaccination coverage and factors associated with anti-influenza vaccination among Spanish children.


METHODS
We analyzed 6464 children (age under 16 years) included in the Spanish National Health Survey (ENS) for 2003. As a dependent variable, we used the reply ("yes" or "no") to the question: Was your child vaccinated against influenza during the last campaign? We calculated anti-influenza vaccine coverage for the whole population and depending on whether or not the vaccine is recommended due to the fact that the children present an associated chronic condition. We analyzed the influence of sociodemographic variables on vaccination.


RESULTS
Vaccination coverage in the Spanish infant population was 5.1%, in children with associated conditions it was 17.5%, and 4.4% in healthy children. The only factor significantly associated with anti-influenza vaccination in children with associated conditions was household income: those from homes with a higher level of income were more likely to be vaccinated (OR=4.26). In children for whom vaccination is not recommended, the probability of being vaccinated against influenza is greater in those whose parents had a lower educational level (OR=2.22).


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-influenza vaccination coverage in the Spanish infant population is very low. There seem to be socio-economic inequalities for receiving this vaccine in Spanish children.
Vázquez-Fernández del Pozo
S
S
Preventive Medicine and Public Health Teaching and Research Unit, Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Avda de Atenas s/n, Alcorcón 28922, Spain.
Hernández-Barrera
V
V
Carrasco-Garrido
P
P
Alvarez-Martín
E
E
López-de Andrés
A
A
Gil de Miguel
A
A
Jiménez-García
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines