Parents’ Decisions on Purchasing Optional Vaccines for Children that Receiving Immunization Services at Health
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Abstract
Introduction: Immunization is one of the most cost-effective health interventions. in Thailand, there are eight basic vaccines for preventing ten diseases as free services for all children in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). However,
optional vaccines are also available that could be purchased based on parents’ decision. Optional vaccines are not included in EPI, since incidences of diseases are low or their costs are high that lead to the non-cost effectiveness interventions if all children are immunized as free services. This study was to identify parents’ decisions on purchasing optional vaccines for children aged 0-5 years. Additionally, the impact of purchasing optional vaccines on household economic was studied. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study. Total of 500 parents of children who received immunization service at Health Promoting Hospital, Health Center Region 6, Khon Kaen during December 2011 were asked to answer the selfadministered questionnaire on purchasing optional vaccines. Results: Based on 338 parents who knew optional vaccines (67.6% of total 500 parents), 28.7% purchased optional vaccines for their children. The three most common optional vaccines that parent purchased were the combined six diseases vaccine (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus [DPT] + inactivated polio vaccine [IPV] + Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine [Hib] + Hepatitis B vaccine [HB]), Lived Attenuated Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, and the combined five diseases vaccine (DPT+IPV+Hib). These indicated parents’ concerns of reducing numbers of injections and side effects of vaccines. Nevertheless, approximately one out of ten poor households had economic impact from purchasing optional vaccines, and they had to reduce their expenses. Conclusion: To accomplish price reduction of combined diseases optional vaccines, the strategy of combined diseases vaccine production development by government should be implemented. These would lead to better accessibility of optional vaccines especially for poor households, and it might be advantageous for children immunization program in the future.
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