[The impact of multiple vaccinations on vaccine schedule adherence and parental attitudes in Monteregie].
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the impact of adding new vaccines on schedule adherence and parental opinion of multiple injections.


METHODS
A descriptive cross-sectional study by self-administered questionnaire mailed to a stratified random sample of each of two cohorts of children drawn from the Montérégie Birth Register: the 2002-2003 cohort (old vaccination schedule) and the 2004-2005 cohort (new schedule). Two surveys were done: Survey 1 (fall 2005-winter 2006) questioned parents whose address could be validated by Canada411.ca; Survey 2 (fall 2006) surveyed parents whose address was validated by the Quebec health insurance board (RAMQ). Incomplete or missing vaccine data were completed by verifying the vaccinators' files.


RESULTS
Analysis of schedule adherence by the Kaplan-Meier survival approach showed that the 2nd and 3rd doses of the DTaP-P-Hib vaccine were received late by the youngest children compared to the oldest (median number of days late: 2 days for the 2nd vaccine (p = 0.013) and 4 days for the 3rd vaccine (p < 0.001)). Many parents (76%) prefer 2 to 3 injections during a single visit, and 61% fear an increase in the risk of side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Even if the evaluated lateness has only a small public health impact, parents must be reassured about the safety of multiple vaccines.
Hamid
Aicha
A
Département des Sciences de la santé communautaire, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, QC. a.hamid@rrsss16.gouv.qc.ca
Guay
Maryse
M
Lemaire
Jacques
J
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010290:Parents; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011792:Quebec; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*