Survey of the status of self-paid varicella vaccination among children one to six years of age in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
Prior to 2004, the mass immunization program in Taiwan did not include varicella vaccine; however, parents could have their children vaccinated by the self-payment option.


METHODS
In April 2002, we distributed 1271 questionnaires to the caregivers of children aged 1 to 6 years in Taoyuan county, Taiwan, to survey the status of vaccination rate against varicella, parental attitudes toward self-paid varicella vaccine, and the demographic characteristics of the family.


RESULTS
Based on the answers provided in the questionnaires (99% response rate), we learned that until April 2002, the vaccination rate against varicella was 26%. Most children received this vaccine by the age of 1 to 2 years (64%) mainly at local clinics (66%). Majority of the caregivers (94%) would have immunized their children against varicella if the vaccines were freely provided or partially paid for. Caregivers living in the city, those children whose parents had a relatively high education level, those from families with fewer children, those whose children were inoculated with other self-paid vaccines, and those parents with a higher family income were significantly (p<0.0001) willing to have their children inoculated.


CONCLUSIONS
In Taiwan, most caregivers were willing to have their children immunized against varicella if the vaccines were freely provided, or even if they were partially paid for. In case of other effective vaccines of high cost and not included in mass immunization, partially paying for the vaccine may be an option, since the parents' willingness was substantially greater when the cost is lowered.
Liao
Sui Ling
SL
Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Huang
Tsuimi
T
Huang
Yhu Chering
YC
Jiang
Donald Dah-Shyong
DD
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000191:economics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005252:Fees, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014505:Urban Population; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine