Adherence to recommended early childhood immunization schedule/practice

Abstract

Immunization enhances the immune system by stimulating the antibodies against antigens through specific inoculation or vaccination. In 1974 WHO started EPI against six diseases Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, Tuberculosis, Tetanus. Later on different vaccines were added. Aim is to make immunization complimentary to other Primary Health Care services in order to reduce mortality morbidity and disability from the vaccine preventable diseases by childhood vaccination. An observational and questioned based study was conducted in different Government hospital in Punjab district. This was done to know the level of compliance to the vaccination schedule. This report provides up-to-date information regarding the vaccination and its impact. Parents’ to 50 children answered a written questionnaire prior to a physical examination and individual semi structured interview. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of validity, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the questionnaire were performed. The main motive behind carrying out this survey was to estimate the ratio of vaccinated child belonging to different status and also to check the awareness of people about preventive health, importance of immunization. The outcome was somehow satisfactory majority of people have known about the importance of adherence to early childhood immunization but till there is a great room for improvement. Even now at the present stage few people are blinded by the some beliefs that vaccination is against religion. So we required great support from parents as well as from society to contribute in task of eradication of polio and other diseases which can be minimized by early childhood recommended schedule.