TY - JOUR
T1 - High cost is the primary barrier reported by physicians who prescribe vaccines not included in India's universal immunization program
AU - Kahn, Geoffrey D.
AU - Thacker, Deep
AU - Nimbalkar, Somashekhar
AU - Santosham, Mathuram
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation [OPP1016946 to M.S.].
PY - 2014/8
Y1 - 2014/8
N2 - Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and rotavirus (RV) vaccine are available in the private market in India, but, except for Hib in eight states, are not included in India's Universal Immunization Program (UIP). Pediatricians were surveyed about administering non-UIP vaccines. Most give these vaccines to some of their patients (73-83%, depending on vaccine), but few give them to all patients (7-18%). High cost was the most frequently cited barrier (93-96%). Only 10-12% of respondents had concerns about the efficacy of PCV or RV vaccine, and concerns about Hib vaccine efficacy or any vaccine safety issues were rare (1-3%). Practice varied by type of healthcare facility, with pediatricians at government hospitals least likely to administer non-UIP vaccines. Support for the inclusion of all three in the UIP was high (83-95%). Including Hib vaccine, PCV and RV vaccine in India's UIP would be supported by pediatricians and help eliminate the current barrier of high cost of these immunizations.
AB - Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and rotavirus (RV) vaccine are available in the private market in India, but, except for Hib in eight states, are not included in India's Universal Immunization Program (UIP). Pediatricians were surveyed about administering non-UIP vaccines. Most give these vaccines to some of their patients (73-83%, depending on vaccine), but few give them to all patients (7-18%). High cost was the most frequently cited barrier (93-96%). Only 10-12% of respondents had concerns about the efficacy of PCV or RV vaccine, and concerns about Hib vaccine efficacy or any vaccine safety issues were rare (1-3%). Practice varied by type of healthcare facility, with pediatricians at government hospitals least likely to administer non-UIP vaccines. Support for the inclusion of all three in the UIP was high (83-95%). Including Hib vaccine, PCV and RV vaccine in India's UIP would be supported by pediatricians and help eliminate the current barrier of high cost of these immunizations.
KW - Haemophilus vaccines
KW - India
KW - Pneumococcal vaccines
KW - Rotavirus vaccines
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84905442612&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84905442612&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/tropej/fmu012
DO - 10.1093/tropej/fmu012
M3 - Article
C2 - 24567310
AN - SCOPUS:84905442612
VL - 60
SP - 287
EP - 291
JO - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
SN - 0142-6338
IS - 4
M1 - fmu012
ER -