title: [Delayed vaccine schedule and missed opportunities for vaccination in children up to 24 months. A multicenter study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delayed vaccine schedule (DVS) and missed opportunities of vaccination (MOV) are some of the main causes of low coverage in children ≤24 month in Argentina.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of DVS and the rate of MOV during the frst 24 months of life and risk factors for their occurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey among children ≤24 month's caregivers at five hospitals in different departments, between August-December/2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total enrolled: 1591 children; 54.2% male, median of age 8 months (0-24 months). Eighty percent concurred with vaccine-card, 75.9% consulted by pathology. Overall DVS rate: 39.7%. Most common DVS reason: the current mild disease: 38.5%. Overall MOV rate: 19.8%. Most common MOV reason: no detection of the need to vaccinate 47.8%. DTPHib and OPV vaccines had a higher risk of DVS and MOV. DVS independent predictors: age ≥6 months, administration for additionally recommended vaccines and prolonged waiting in the last vaccination. MOV independent predictors were: age ≥6 months, no compliance with prior care, and not asking for vaccines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a high proportion of MOV and mainly of DVS; they were associated mostly to false contraindications, lack of questioning on vaccines and difficulties in the quality of care provided to parents.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires. angelagentile@fibertel.com.ar
authors.forename: Ángela
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bakir
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Firpo
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: María F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lución
authors.forename: Héctor J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiossone
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Debbag
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*