title: Immunizations against respiratory infections in children in primary health care in poland: coverage and delays.
abstract: Pneumococcal infections, pertussis, and influenza are vaccine-preventable diseases. The aim of this study was to determine vaccine coverage and compliance with the dosage regimen among children in Poland. We performed a retrospective chart analysis of 1,356 children in a large primary healthcare establishment. The complete primary pertussis vaccination, 3 doses in the first year of life, was administered to 1,310/1,356 patients (96.6 %). The self-paid combined acellular vaccine was given in 55.2 % of children. The first dose of the pertussis vaccine was administered in a timely manner to 67.1 % of children. The self-paid pneumococcal vaccine was administered in 499/1,356 (36.8 %) children. In 46.1 % of them immunization started within the first 6 months of life; in 12.6 % aged 7-11 months, in 12.6 % aged 12-23 months, and in 28.7 % aged over 24 months. The dosage regimen was compliant in 49.2 % of patients. Only 3.5 % of patients were immunized against both pneumococci and influenza. Compliance with the Polish immunization program should be increased by reducing the number of injections and the cost of vaccines. Education is essential to facilitate simultaneous administration of vaccines during one visit and to prepare the parents for judicious decision-making when it comes to vaccinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Wrocław, 44 Bujwida St., Wroclaw, Poland, ernest.kuchar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miśkiewicz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuchar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nitsch-Osuch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Preisner
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szenborn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D061665:Time-to-Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines