Acta Medica Medianae (Oct 2009)
TIMELINESS AND LEVEL OF PRIMARY IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AGAINST MEASLES AND RUBELLA IN MONTENEGRO
Abstract
The aim of the paper was to determine the timeliness and level of primary immunization coverage against measles and rubella in Montenegro in the cohort born from January 1 to December 31, 2006.Cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from October to December 2008. All immunization points in Montenegro were visited and immunization records of the entire cohort born in 2006 were reviewed.Timeliness of primary immunization coverage with MMR was 91.4% at the level of Montenegro, but in seven (33,3%) municipalities timeliness of primary immunization coverage was less than 90%, including one municipality even with less than 80%. After the additional activities on the vaccination of previously unvaccinated children, primary immunization coverage with MMR reached the value of 96.1% at the level of Montenegro, and in the majority of municipalities exceeded the value of 95%. However, after additional immunization activities in six out of 21 municipalities (28.6%), primary immunization coverage with MMR was below 95% of which in one municipality below 90%.In the cohort born during 2006, timely primary immunization with MMR was performed in one third of Montenegrin municipalities with the value less than 90%. Supplemental immunization activities related to unvaccinated children significantly increased the primary immunization coverage with MMR in the cohort born in 2006. Yet, in a certain number of municipalities even after additional immunization activities, the primary immunization coverage did not reach the required 95%. In comparison with routine administrative reporting on immunization coverage, the surveys which involve the review of immunization records after additional immunization activities provide more realistic rate of completeness and timeliness of primary immunization coverage.
