Vaccine schedule compliance among very low birth weight infants in Lima, Peru

Abstract

There is little information about vaccine schedule compliance in very-low-birth-weight infants in developing countries. The aim of the study was to describe the compliance with the vaccine schedule among this population in Lima, Peru. We conducted a prospective cohort study in four hospitals in Lima in infants with a birth-weight of less than 1500 g, followed from birth up to 12 months of age every 2 weeks. The date and age at administration of each vaccine was recorded. 222 infants were enrolled. The median birth-weight was 1250 g (range 550–1499 g) and the median gestational age was 30.0 weeks (range 23–37 weeks). The mean age for the first pentavalent (DPT, Hib, HepB) and oral polio vaccine administration was 4.3 ± 1.4 months in infants with a birth-weight of <1000 g vs. 3.1 ± 1.0 in infants with a birth-weight 1000–1500 g (p < 0.001); 4.1 ± 0.9 vs. 3.3 ± 1.1 for rotavirus (p < 0.05); and 5.1 ± 2.1 vs. 4.3 ± 1.8 for the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine. Only 35% had received the three doses of oral polio and pentavalent vaccine by seven months, although by nine months 81% had received these vaccines. Vaccination of very-low-birth-weight infants in Peru is significantly delayed, especially in infants with a birth-weight of <1000 g and lower gestational age. Urgent educational interventions targeting physicians and nurses should be implemented in order to improve vaccination rates and timing in these high risk populations.