Immunization Coverage and the Reasons for Unvaccination in Indjija, Srem District, Republic of Serbia

Background: Vaccination is one of the most successfull public health measures. It is administration of pathogens or their parts in order to improve an individual`s immunity to a particular disease. The aim of mandatory National immunization programme is to achieve and maintain 95% immunization coverage of the entire population. Children should be vaccinated according to the Natonal immunization schedule.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunization coverage of children born from 1997. till 2008. year according to the National immunization programme in Indjija, Srem District, Republic of Serbia and to determine the reasons for their incomplete vaccination at the time of conducting the cross-section.

Methods: The descriptive epidemiological method was performed. The data were gathered in July 2016. at Pediatric Department in Primary Health Center Indjija, from immunization records of children born between 1997. and 2008.

Results: There have been 3366 medical records of schoolchildren, born from 1997. till 2008. year. Vaccination coverage was above 95% in all volumes, except in one (1998. year of birth), it was 94.8%. The total immunization coverage was 96.6%. Parents refused vaccination for 35/3366 children, 1.03%. Incompletely immunized were 77/3366 children, 2.28%. Medical reasons for incomplete vaccination had 11 /77 children, 14.3%. Between nonmedical reasons for incomplete vaccination vaccine deficiency 11/77 (14.3 %) and family removal 26/77 (33.7%) were the most common.

Conclusion: Immunization coverage according to the National immunization program in the schoolchildren in Indjija was in accordance with the recommendations ( > 95%). It is necessary to point out the importance of organizational measures and parental education about the necessity of vaccines to reduce the percentage of refused and incomplete vaccination.