Time Of Vaccination Research Articles

Vaccine Completion and Timeliness Among Children in the Military Health System: 2010-2019.

Few studies have evaluated pediatric vaccination coverage in the Military Health System, although some evidence suggests lower than ideal coverage. This study assessed vaccine completion and timeliness among military dependents through age 24 months. Children born at military hospitals from 2010 through 2019 were identified using Department of Defense Birth and Infant Health Research program data. Vaccine completion and timeliness were assessed for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; polio; measles, mumps, and rubella; hepatitis B; Haemophilus influenzae type b; varicella; and pneumococcal conjugate individually and as a combined 7-vaccine series; rotavirus was assessed separately. Modified Poisson regression models were used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for noncompletion and delays, adjusting for demographic characteristics. Of 275 967 children, 74.4% completed the combined 7-vaccine series, and 36.2% of those who completed the series had delays. Completion peaked at 78.7% among children born in 2016 and 2017. Among all vaccines, completion was lowest for rotavirus (77.5%), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (83.1%), Haemophilus influenzae type b (86.6%), and pneumococcal conjugate (88.4%). Risk for noncompletion was higher among children born to younger pregnant parents (adjusted RR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.27-1.40) and with a well-child care location change (adjusted RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.09-1.12). Risk for delays paralleled that for noncompletion. Vaccine completion and timeliness generally improved among military children, but greater noncompletion of vaccine series with more versus fewer doses and disparities for younger and mobile service members suggest system barriers remain.

Vaccine coverage and timeliness among children of adolescent mothers: A community-based study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

BackgroundChildren born to adolescent mothers are more vulnerable to infant mortality and morbidity than those born to adult mothers. HIV-exposed children have lower antibody protection against vaccine-preventable diseases at birth compared to unexposed children. In South Africa, 17 % of adolescent girls aged 15–19 years are mothers, yet vaccination coverage and timeliness among their children is underreported. MethodsThis study estimated age-appropriate vaccination coverage and timeliness among children (n = 1080) of adolescent mothers (n = 1015) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mother-child dyads were recruited through healthcare and community-based sampling strategies. Vaccination data were abstracted from 1013 home-based child health records (2017–2019). Coverage is reported for Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis 3rd dose (DTP3), under-1 vaccination among children over 12 months (n = 613) and measles 2nd dose (MCV2) among children over 24 months (n = 382) using proportions with 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI). Timeliness is defined as receiving each vaccination within 4 weeks of recommended age. Findings are disaggregated by maternal HIV-status. ResultsOverall, 27.3 % of adolescent mothers were living with HIV. Coverage of DTP3 was 85.6 % (95 %CI: 82.6–88.3 %), under-1 coverage was 53.2 % (95 %CI: 49.1–57.2 %), and MCV2 coverage was 62.3 % (95 %CI: 57.2–67.2 %). Vaccination coverage was lower among children of adolescent mothers living with HIV (AMLHIV) than unexposed children (DTP3 80.3 % vs 88.2 % p-value: 0.01; under-1 46.5 % vs 56.4 % p-value: 0.02; MCV2 55.4 % vs 67.1 % p-value: 0.02). Timeliness of vaccinations declined over time from 98.0 % at birth, 70.7 % at 14 weeks, 71.9 % at 9 months and 37.3 % at 18 months. ConclusionVaccination coverage among children of adolescent mothers in the Eastern Cape are below national targets. Children of AMLHIV had lower coverage than HIV-unexposed children. Further research is needed to identify risk factors associated with incomplete and delayed vaccinations among this group, particularly among HIV-exposed children. Enhanced vaccination campaigns may be required for children of adolescent mothers.

Confidence and barriers: Analysis of factors associated with timely routine childhood vaccination in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic

Routine childhood vaccination is a crucial component of public health in Canada and worldwide. To facilitate catch-up from the global decline in routine vaccination caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and toward the ongoing pursuit of coverage goals, vaccination programs must understand barriers to vaccine access imposed or exacerbated by the pandemic. We conducted a regionally representative online survey in January 2023 including 2036 Canadian parents with children under the age of 18. We used the COM-B model of behaviour to examine factors influencing vaccination timeliness during the pandemic. We assessed Capability with measures of vaccine understanding and decision difficulty, and Motivation with a measure of vaccine confidence. Opportunity was assessed through parents' self-reported experience with barriers to vaccination. Twenty-four percent of surveyed parents reported having missed or delayed one of their children's scheduled routine vaccinations since the beginning of the pandemic, though most parents reported having either caught up or the intention to catch up soon. In the absence of opportunity barriers, motivation was associated with timely vaccination for children aged 0–4 years (aOR = 1.81, 95 % CI: 1.14–2.84). However, experience with one or more opportunity barriers, particularly clinic closures and difficulties getting an appointment, eliminated this relationship, suggesting perennial and new pandemic-associated barriers are a critical challenge to vaccine coverage goals in Canada.

Determinants of timely administration of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine in Senegal in 2019: Secondary analysis of the demographic and health survey.

In developing countries, hepatitis B is spread primarily by the perinatal or horizontal route. Thus, the Senegalese government recommends administering the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine (HepB0) within 24 hours of birth. The objective was to identify the determinants of timely administration of HepB0 in Senegal in 2019. A secondary analysis of the demographic and health survey was carried out. The study population consisted of children aged 12 to 23 months. A cluster survey, stratified in urban and rural areas, drawn at two stages, was carried out. Individual interviews were conducted. Logistic regression was applied to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and their 95% confidence interval. In total, 1130 children were included. Among them, 48.1% were born to mothers aged 25 to 34, 46.8% were male and 82.6% were born in health facilities. The average time between birth and HepB0 administration was 13.1±46.6 days. The median is 0 days [IQR: 0-12] with a minimum of 0 days and a maximum of 414 days. Among 747 children vaccinated, only 65.2% were vaccinated within 24 hours of birth. The determinants were maternal age of at least 35 years (aOR = 2.03 [1.29-3.20]), primary education of the mother (aOR = 1.94 [1.13-3. 35]), at least four antenatal care visits (aOR = 1.74 [1.12-2.69]), belonging to the central (ORa = 0.22 [0.11-0.44]) and northern regions (aOR = 0.18 [0.08-0.40]), and delivery in a health facility (aOR = 3.42 [1.90-6.15]). Education and keeping girls in school, local postnatal care in hard-to-reach regions, promotion of antenatal acre and delivery in a health facility should improve the timeliness of HepB0 vaccination.

SMS-based interventions for improving child and adolescent vaccine coverage and timeliness: a systematic review

BackgroundThe aim of this review was to investigate the impact of short message service (SMS)-based interventions on childhood and adolescent vaccine coverage and timeliness.MethodsA pre-defined search strategy was used to identify all relevant publications up until July 2022 from electronic databases. Reports of randomised trials written in English and involving children and adolescents less than 18 years old were included. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.ResultsThirty randomised trials were identified. Most trials were conducted in high-income countries. There was marked heterogeneity between studies. SMS-based interventions were associated with small to moderate improvements in vaccine coverage and timeliness compared to no SMS reminder. Reminders with embedded education or which were combined with monetary incentives performed better than simple reminders in some settings.ConclusionSome SMS-based interventions appear effective for improving child vaccine coverage and timeliness in some settings. Future studies should focus on identifying which features of SMS-based strategies, including the message content and timing, are determinants of effectiveness.

How the COVID-19 pandemic affected infant vaccination trends in rural and urban communities in Ibadan, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study compared the infant vaccination trends a year before and a year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in selected urban and rural communities in Ibadan, Nigeria.DesignThis was...

Timeliness of Childhood Vaccinations Following Strengthening of the Second Year of Life (2YL) Immunization Platform and Introduction of Catch-Up Vaccination Policy in Ghana.

Strengthening routine immunization systems to successfully deliver childhood vaccines during the second year of life (2YL) is critical for vaccine-preventable disease control. In Ghana, the 18-month visit provides opportunities to deliver the second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine (MR2) and for healthcare workers to assess for and provide children with any missed vaccine doses. In 2016, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) revised its national immunization policies to include guidelines for catch-up vaccinations. This study assessed the change in the timely receipt of vaccinations per Ghana's Expanded Program on Immunizations (EPI) schedule, an important indicator of service quality, following the introduction of the catch-up policy and implementation of a multifaceted intervention package. Vaccination coverage was assessed from household surveys conducted in the Greater Accra, Northern, and Volta regions for 392 and 931 children aged 24-35 months with documented immunization history in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Age at receipt of childhood vaccines was compared to the recommended age, as per the EPI schedule. Cumulative days under-vaccinated during the first 24 months of life for each recommended dose were assessed. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess the associations between child and caregiver characteristics and time to MR2 vaccination. From 2016 to 2020, the proportion of children receiving all recommended doses on schedule generally improved, the duration of under-vaccination was shortened for most doses, and higher coverage rates were achieved at earlier ages for the MR series. More timely infant doses and caregiver awareness of the 2YL visit were positively associated with MR2 vaccination. Fostering a well-supported cadre of vaccinators, building community demand for 2YL vaccination, sustaining service utilization through strengthened defaulter tracking and caregiver-reminder systems, and creating a favorable policy environment that promotes vaccination over the life course are critical to improving the timeliness of childhood vaccinations.

Enhanced Timeliness and Co-Administration of Meningitis B Vaccination in Children: Impact of Funding in Valencian Community, Spain.

Public funding of vaccines may enhance vaccination rates, co-administration, and timeliness. The impacts of including the serogroup B meningococcus vaccine (MenB) into the national immunisation schedule on vaccination rates, co-administration rates, and timeliness were assessed using a population-based pre-funding (2022) and post-funding (2023) study design. MenB vaccination rates improved after funding and were in line with previously funded vaccines. Co-administration rates also increased significantly. Timely administration increased, protecting children at an early age. Public funding has a positive impact on vaccine accessibility and early protection. Consistent population characteristics highlight the role of funding.

Determinant factors of vaccination timeliness and completeness for children under five in low and middle-income countries in the last fifteen years: A systematic review

Background: Vaccination is one of the most effective disease prevention efforts in reducing morbidity and mortality in infants and children. In achieving health status for all, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a policy aimed at achieving universal vaccination for children. As a result, this program succeeded in significantly reducing global child deaths from 12.6 million in 1990 to 6.3 million in 2013. Purpose: To explore the factors influencing of vaccination timeliness and completeness for children under five in low and middle-income countries in the last fifteen years. Method: A systematic review of articles searched through PubMed and Google Scholar from 2009 to 2024. Retrieved articles were screened using selected items from a systematic review and flow diagram meta-analysis (PRISMA). The inclusion criteria in this review were articles in English or Indonesian that discussed factors that influence the completeness of basic vaccinations for children under five. Results: Eight of the 244 articles were obtained from database searches. In general, the factors that influence the completeness of vaccination are divided into several levels, namely individual, family, community and country. At the individual and family level, the factors identified are knowledge, education, healthy living behavior, marital status, number of family members, number of children, child spacing, child birth order, economy, and family support. At the community and country level, several factors influence, among others, visits by health workers, providing information about vaccinations, officers' attitudes, living in poor, urban areas, illiterate communities, and the country's fertility rate. Conclusion: Socioeconomics is still a factor influencing the completeness of vaccination in low and middle income countries in the last 15 years. Various existing factors should be evaluated and solutions sought that can be adapted and implemented, such as training for health workers, communication training for health workers, health education approaches for heads of families, increasing access to health services by utilizing technology, and so on. Suggestion: Developing countries need innovative approaches to identify and understand factors associated with the social determinants of vaccination programs.

Dynamics of Timely Vaccination Among Tender-Age Infants in two Subjects of Russian Federation with the Lowest Immunization Coverage in 2020: Serial Cross-Sectional Study

Background. It was revealed in 2020 that immunization of children in decreed times in several subjects of Russian Federation was below the standard level. Therefore, monitoring of timely vaccination in children of these regions was relevant. Objective. The aim of the study is to evaluate changes in the timeliness of vaccination in children of two subjects of Russian Federation with low immunization rates according to 2020 data. Methods. Immunization of children born in 2015–2017 and 2020–2022 were studied according to the form of federal statistical monitoring (FFSM) No. 6 and vaccination record cards (form No. 063/y) obtained from children's polyclinics of the Republic of Bashkortostan (two in 2020 and three in 2023) and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (two in 2020 and four in 2023). The vaccination timeliness among children against infections from the national immunization schedule (NIS) list was determined. The timeliness of vaccination was evaluated by the proportion of children who received the required number of vaccine doses against each of the infection from the NIS list by the decreed age among all persons of the decreed age. Results. Data from 998 records was analyzed. The increase in timely vaccination against all vaccine-controlled infections in children was revealed. The proportion of children vaccinated according to the NIS has increased by 1.5–4 times. Timely vaccination of 95% children in the decreed age (by FFSM No. 6) was achieved in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, measles, rubella, and mumps, and in the Republic of Bashkortostan against measles, rubella, and mumps. The increase in the multivalent vaccines’ usage and simultaneous administration of several vaccines has been discovered. Conclusion. Monitoring the level of documented immunization and timely vaccination in children allows effectively control routine immunization quality. Implementation of multivalent vaccines and simultaneous administration of several vaccines in routine immunization provides radical change in the vaccination rate in pediatric population.

Health Care Access and COVID-19 Vaccination in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Although federal legislation made COVID-19 vaccines free, inequities in access to medical care may affect vaccine uptake. To assess whether health care access was associated with uptake and timeliness of COVID-19 vaccination in the United States. A cross-sectional study. 2021 National Health Interview Survey (Q2-Q4). In all, 21,532 adults aged≥18 were included in the study. Exposures included 4 metrics of health care access: health insurance, having an established place for medical care, having a physician visit within the past year, and medical care affordability. Outcomes included receipt of 1 or more COVID-19 vaccines and receipt of a first vaccine within 6 months of vaccine availability. We examined the association between each health care access metric and outcome using logistic regression, unadjusted and adjusted for demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic covariates. In unadjusted analyses, each metric of health care access was associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination and (among those vaccinated) early vaccination. In adjusted analyses, having health coverage (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.60; 95% CI: 1.39, 1.84), a usual place of care (AOR 1.58; 95% CI: 1.42, 1.75), and a doctor visit within the past year (AOR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.31, 1.62) remained associated with higher rates of COVID-19 vaccination. Only having a usual place of care was associated with early vaccine uptake in adjusted analyses. Receipt of COVID-19 vaccination was self-reported. Several metrics of health care access are associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. Policies that achieve universal coverage, and facilitate long-term relationships with trusted providers, may be an important component of pandemic responses.

Vaccination Timeliness Among US Children Aged 0-19 Months, National Immunization Survey–Child 2011-2021

Delays in receiving vaccinations lead to greater vaccine-preventable disease risk. Timeliness of receipt of recommended vaccinations is not routinely tracked in the US, either overall or for populations that have known barriers to accessing routine health care, including lower-income families and children. To measure vaccination timeliness among US children aged 0 to 19 months, overall and by socioeconomic indicators. This serial, cross-sectional study analyzed nationally representative data from the 2011 to 2021 National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child), an annual survey of parents, with immunization histories collected from clinicians administering vaccines. The 2020 and 2021 surveys largely reflected vaccinations in the US before the COVID-19 pandemic. Study participants included US children surveyed at ages 19 to 35 months. Data were analyzed from January to August 2023. Survey year. The primary outcomes were average days undervaccinated (ADU) and percentage of children who received all vaccine doses on time (ie, 0 days undervaccinated) for the combined 7-vaccine series up to age 19 months. The mean adjusted annual change in on-time vaccination by socioeconomic indicators was calculated by use of multivariable log-linked binomial regression models. The surveys included 179 154 children (92 248 boys [51.2%]); 74 479 (31.4%, weighted) lived above the federal poverty level with more than $75 000 in annual family income, 58 961 (32.4%) lived at or above the poverty level with $75 000 or less in annual family income, and 39 564 (30.2%) lived below the poverty level. Overall, the median (IQR) ADU for the combined 7-vaccine series in the US decreased from 22.3 (0.4-71.5) days in the 2011 survey to 11.9 (0.0-55.5) days in the 2021 survey. The prevalence of on-time receipt of the combined 7-vaccine series increased from 22.5% (95% CI, 21.4%-23.6%) to 35.6% (95% CI, 34.2%-37.0%). Although children with more than $75 000 in annual family income had a 4.6% (95% CI, 4.0%-5.2%) mean annual increase in on-time vaccination, the mean annual increase was 2.8% (95% CI, 2.0%-3.6%) for children living at or above the poverty level with $75 000 or less in annual family income and 2.0% (95% CI, 1.0%-3.0%) for children living below the poverty level. In this cross-sectional study of NIS-Child data, improvements in vaccination timeliness were observed from the 2011 to the 2021 survey. However, widening disparities by socioeconomic indicators signal that increased efforts to facilitate timely vaccination among children in lower-income families are needed.

Disparities in Vaccination Coverage and Timeliness among Children Aged 12 to 23 Months within Calabar South, Cross River State, Nigeria

Immunization serves as a cost-effective shield against vaccine-preventable diseases, promoting population health and sustainable prosperity. This study aimed to determine vaccination coverage and assess the timeliness of vaccination (BCG, PENTA1, and measles vaccines) among children aged 12 to 23 months in the wards of Calabar South Local Government Area (LGA) in Cross River State. A community-based cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, with the number of children sampled being 460 to account for non-response and design. Information about children were obtained through interviews with proxy caregivers. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Ethical approval was obtained from the CRS Ministry of Health. There were 190 male children (41.3%) and 275 female children (58.7%) in the study. The age group of 12-15 months (55.2%) represents the largest category. The overall vaccination coverage was 88.3%, varying across wards (100% in ward 4, followed by 96.1% in ward 8, then 96% in ward 5, 91.6% in ward 12, and 80.8% in ward 11). The proportion of overall timely vaccination was 71.5%, with PENTA1 having the highest timeliness (88.3%). The proportions of timely vaccination for BCG and PENTA1 were highest in ward 4, followed by ward 5, but lowest in ward 11. Timeliness for all vaccines was also highest in ward 4, followed by ward 12, then ward 5, ward 8 and ward 11. Vaccination coverage and timeliness differed between locations, highlighting the need for Government interventions to be context-specific, addressing challenges within different ward locations rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Spatial pattern and associated factors of timely vaccination in Ethiopia using EDHS-2016 data: A multilevel and spatial analysis.

Age-appropriate vaccination or vaccine timeliness is the administering of vaccines on the specified schedule of immunization. One of the qualities of the immunization program is an age-appropriate vaccine, it has become an ignored indicator of program performance. Even though age-appropriate vaccination is critical for child health, there are no national-level studies to generate conclusive and tangible evidence about the determination of timely vaccination in Ethiopia. To assess the spatial pattern and associated factors of timely vaccination in Ethiopia using EDHS-2016 data: A multilevel and spatial analysis. Community based cross-sectional study design was employed from 18 January to 27 June 2016. To select the participants, two-stage cluster sampling was employedin the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016 data. Permission was obtained via online request by explaining the aim of this particular study from DHS international. A statistical package for social science-21 software was used for data cleaning, recoding, and analysis. Arc GIS 10.3 software was used to show the spatial variation of age-appropriate vaccination practices. A generalized linear mixed-effect model was used. For all models, intra-class correlation, a proportional change in variance, the log-likelihood test, and the Akaike information criterion were calculated. The best model was selected by the lowest value Akaike information criterion. Variables with a p-value less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence level were considered for the statistically significant association. The spatial distribution of age-appropriate vaccination practice in Ethiopia was non-randomly distributed with the global Moran's I value of 0.22 (p-value <0.001). The prevalence of age-appropriate vaccination practice in Ethiopia was 33.8%. Women who receive ≥ 2 TT vaccines (AOR = 1.48; 1.22, 1.79), women who lived in rural residences (AOR = 0.77; 0.62, 0.96), gave birth at a health facility (AOR = 1.2; 1.12, 1.37), ANC follow up (AOR = 174; 1.45, 2.1), richest (AOR = 1.65; 1.15, 2.37), richer (AOR = 1.72; 1.3, 2.22), middle-level income (AOR = 1.65; 1.16, 2.36), poorer (AOR = 1.47; 1.11, 1.96) were the factors of age-appropriate vaccination practice. The spatial distribution of age-appropriate vaccination practice in Ethiopia was non-randomly distributed across the regions. Age-appropriate vaccination practice was low in Ethiopia. Wealth index, usual caretaker of the child, ANC utilization, history of TT vaccination, place of delivery, and residence were associated with age-appropriate vaccination practice.

Leveraging Community Health Workers and a Responsive Digital Health System to Improve Vaccination Coverage and Timeliness in Resource-Limited Settings: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Study.

Tanzania is 1 of 20 countries where the majority of unvaccinated and undervaccinated children reside. Prior research identified substantial rural-urban disparities in the coverage and timeliness of childhood vaccinations in Tanzania, with children in rural settings being more likely to receive delayed or no vaccinations. Further research is necessary to identify effective and scalable interventions that can bridge rural-urban gaps in childhood vaccination while accounting for multifaceted barriers to vaccination. This protocol describes a type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid study to evaluate Chanjo Kwa Wakati (timely vaccination in Kiswahili), a community-based digital health intervention to improve vaccination timeliness. The intervention combines human resources (community health workers), low-cost digital strategies (electronic communication, digital case management, and task automation), a vaccination knowledge intervention, and insights from behavioral economics (reminders and incentives) to promote timely childhood vaccinations. The study will be conducted in 2 predominantly rural regions in Tanzania with large numbers of unvaccinated or undervaccinated children: Shinyanga and Mwanza. Forty rural health facilities and their catchment areas (clusters) will be randomized to an early or delayed onset study arm. From each cluster, 3 cohorts of mother-child dyads (1 retrospective cohort and 2 prospective cohorts) will be enrolled in the study. The timeliness and coverage of all vaccinations recommended during the first year of life will be observed for 1200 children (n=600, 50% intervention group children and n=600, 50% nonintervention group children). The primary effectiveness outcome will be the timeliness of the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine (Penta3). Quantitative surveys, vaccination records, study logs, fidelity checklists, and qualitative interviews with mothers and key informants will inform the 5 constructs of the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. The results will be used to develop an implementation blueprint to guide future adaptations and scale-up of Chanjo Kwa Wakati. The study was funded in August 2022. Data collection is expected to last from February 2024 to July 2027. This study will address the lack of rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of community-based digital health interventions for promoting vaccination coverage and timeliness among children from sub-Saharan Africa and identify potential implementation strategies to facilitate the deployment of vaccination promotion interventions in low- and middle-income countries. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06024317; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06024317. PRR1-10.2196/52523.

Vaccination of premature newborns

Premature newborns are most vulnerable to the severe infectious diseases. The timeliness of vaccination in this group of children is extremely important. Historically, however, vaccination coverage for premature newborns has been significantly reduced due to unjustified contraindications. This is due to the fear of developing post-vaccination complications and the opinion that the immune response to vaccines in preterm newborns is reduced. In addition, in our country, there are no approved federal clinical guidelines for the vaccination of premature newborns, which determines the lack of a unified approach among medical workers and raises doubts among parents.The article presents a review of Russian and foreign literature data, highlighting the state of the problem of timeliness and completeness of vaccination coverage of premature newborns. Features of the immunity of a child born prematurely and the possibility of an adequate response to vaccine antigens in various degrees of prematurity. According to the list of the National Immunization Schedule, scientific and practical data on the safety and efficacy of vaccines registered in Russia, the benefits of complying with approved schedule and the positive non-specific effects of individual vaccines are given. Data on the specific prevention of RS-virus infection are presented. It has been shown that conditions that can develop after vaccination and are characteristic of prematurity are not directly related to the vaccine and that premature newborns is able to develop a sufficient immune response. Accordingly, children born prematurely should be immunized in accordance with the passport age with the stabilization of the child’s condition and adequate weight gain.

Towards contextualized complex systems approaches to scaling-up hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination in the African region: a qualitative systematic review.

Despite the longstanding implementation of universal hepatitis B infant vaccination programs, the World Health Organization African region (WHO AFRO) maintains the highest prevalence (2.5%) of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among children ≤5 years of age. Scaling-up hepatitis B birth-dose (HepB BD) vaccination could avert mother-to-child transmission of HBV infection and advance regional progress towards eliminating viral hepatitis. To describe whether - and how - complexities within the health system or intervention influence the performance of HepB BD vaccination programs in the WHO AFRO. Using a complexity perspective, we conducted a qualitative systematic review of literature published between 2009-2022. A Boolean search strategy retrieved relevant literature indexed in PubMed, EBSCOhost databases, Scopus, and Web of Science, with supplementary searches conducted to identify any missed articles. No language restrictions were applied. Data extraction, synthesis and analysis were guided by a systems-based logic model tailored to systematic reviews of complex interventions. Our search yielded 672 published records. Of these, 28 (26 English, 2 French) were eligible for inclusion. Among the 12 WHO AFRO member states represented, the origin of evidence weighted highest in Nigeria (n = 12) and Senegal (n = 5). The performance of HepB BD vaccination programs across member states are influenced by underlying complexities across eight cross-cutting themes: (i) availability and interpretation of HepB BD vaccination policies, (ii) capacity of vaccine supply and cold chain systems, (iii) availability of equitable and sustainable financing, (iv) capacity and capability of health care workers (HCWs), (v) immunization monitoring systems and impaired feedback loops, (vi) influence of context vs system design on the timeliness of vaccination, (vii) maternal knowledge and socio-economic factors, and (viii) wider contextual factors (geography, climate, cultural practices). Countries looking to introduce, or scale-up HepB BD vaccination programs will benefit from careful consideration of components of the intervention design that are dependent on the end-user's context and capabilities in accessing the vaccine; the adherence and interpretation of essential components of the policy; the provision of adequate support of stakeholders specifically HCWs and government ministries; and the need for innovative approaches to underlying complexities. Lessons offered by these African experiences provide pragmatic approaches to successfully implementing HepB BD vaccination programs in the region.

Timeliness of BCG vaccination and its associated factors among children aged 12-23 months in Kufa district, Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Timeliness of BCG vaccination and its associated factors among children aged 12-23 months in Kufa district, Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination coverage under varying prevalence Conditions: A cohort study in Beijing, China

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has experienced various phases including outbreaks, a global health crisis, and eventual de-escalation from a public health emergency of international concern, significantly affecting the delivery and utilization of healthcare services. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the coverage rate of routine immunization in children under varying prevalence conditions. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study in Beijing, China, utilizing stratified random sampling by birthdate to obtain a sample of 29,811 participants. Subjects were categorized into four cohorts based on when they became eligible for vaccination: the Pre-COVID Period cohort, the COVID-19 Low Epidemic Period cohort, the COVID-19 Surging Period cohort, and the COVID-19 Slowing Down Period cohort. A one-month follow-up was conducted. Cox proportional hazards model was employed to examine associations between the COVID-19 epidemic status and timely vaccination. ResultsParticipants age-eligible for vaccination during the COVID-19 Low Epidemic Period demonstrated higher rates of timely vaccination (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15–1.22) compared to those eligible during the Pre-COVID Period. Conversely, those eligible during the COVID-19 Surging Period displayed lower rates (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.66–0.82). No significant difference in vaccination timeliness was observed for those eligible during the COVID-19 Slowing Down Period in comparison to the Pre-COVID Period (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.91–1.09). By the end of May 2023, DTP3 rate among eligible children during the COVID-19 Surging Period had surpassed 90%. ConclusionsSignificantly declining rates of timely vaccination were observed during the COVID-19 Surging Period, which lasted two months, but not during the nearly three-year-long COVID-19 Low Epidemic Period. An upward trend in vaccination timeliness followed, culminating in a return to baseline levels over the subsequent 3–4 months. Our findings suggested that the pandemic exerted a decreasing and recoverable impact on the coverage rate of routine immunizations in China.

Do Pentavalent (DTwP-Hib-HBV) vaccines have sex-differential nonspecific effects? An observational study

ABSTRACT Vaccines may alter the ability to combat infections unrelated to the target disease, i.e. have “nonspecific effects.” The non-live Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis vaccine (DTP) has been associated with increased child mortality, especially for females. In 2008, the DTP-containing Pentavalent vaccine replaced DTP vaccine in Guinea-Bissau. We investigate female relative to male mortality after Penta vaccination. In Guinea-Bissau, Bandim Health Project (BHP) registered children’s vaccination and vital status at biannual village visits and provided vaccines. Among children Penta-vaccinated by BHP, we compared mortality of males and females in Cox proportional hazards models. Children aged 6 weeks to 8 months entered the analysis at the date of vaccination and were followed for up to 6 months. Between September 2008 and December 2017, 33,989 children aged 6 weeks to 8 months were under surveillance. Of these 12,753 (females: 6,363; males: 6,390) received Penta by the BHP and entered the study contributing with 19,667 observations. The mortality rate following Penta vaccination was 25.2 per 1,000 person years for females and 26.6 for males, resulting in an adjusted Female/Male mortality rate ratio of (F/M aMRR) 1.01 (0.82–1.25). The association between sex and mortality differed by timeliness of vaccination, F/M aMRR: 0.62 (0.41–0.93) for children vaccinated below median age, and F/M aMRR: 1.38 (0.90–2.13) for children vaccinated above median age. We did not find higher overall mortality in females than males after Penta vaccination. Our findings suggest that mortality differences between males and females following Penta vaccination may depend on timeliness of Penta vaccination.