Immunization status of pediatric patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Lahore & causes of vaccination failure; a cross sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the immunization status of pediatric patients brought to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore; and to determine the reasons behind under-immunization.

Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Duration and Place of Study: The study was conducted over a period of 6 months (01.11.2019 to 30.04.2020) at Department of Pediatrics, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore.

Materials and Methods: Parents of children aged up to 5 years visiting the outpatient department participated in the study. Relevant data was collected & recorded on a simple questionnaire.

Results: Among a total of 500 children, 234 (46.8%) were males and 266 (53.2%) were females. The average age was 15.0±12.3 months; 358 (71.6%) children were fully vaccinated & 142 (28.4%) were partially- or un-vaccinated.

Parental unawareness & lack of knowledge, repeated illnesses of child causing the delay in immunization, false religious beliefs, unaffordability of the transport charges to reach vaccination centers & unavailability of immunization services on daily basis in some centers were among the causes of under-immunization.

Conclusion: Our country still lags far behind in immunization rates. This issue needs to be addressed through increasing public awareness at all levels, and through making the vaccine delivery system more effective and approachable.

Key Words: Immunization, vaccination, vaccination failure, vaccine preventable diseases