ABSTRACT
Background: Young children are often at increased risk for illness and death related to infectious diseases, and vaccine delays may leave them vulnerable at ages with a high risk of contracting several vaccine-preventable diseases This study examined delay for each pentavalent vaccine in the universal immunization programme and the factors that influence untimely vaccinations.Methods: This was a hospital based cross sectional study done on 45 days to-12 months aged children attending the immunisation clinic held at government medical college and hospital Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Data was collected from the records on health card as well from mother with the help of pretested pre-structured questionnaire for predictors of delay.Results: Total 411 children aging 45 days to 12 months were enrolled in the study. For pentavalent 1 vaccine, 83.69% received vaccine without delay and 16.31% were delayed. 43.53% were delayed for pentavalent 2 vaccine, 224 children received pentavalent 3 vaccine, out of them 80.35% received within time whereas 19.65% were delayed. We found birth order, parent’s education, working status of mother, mother’s age below 18; parity had statistically significant association with delay. Unawareness about the right timings of vaccination and immunization schedules held at periphery, parents delaying vaccine for minor sickness of baby, were the main reasons observed for delay.Conclusions: A total 83.69% children received vaccine within the recommended time. Still 16.31% children experience delay for the vaccination. Reasons for delay observed can be overcome by appropriate counselling of mother by health care workers at the first time of vaccination which will improve the adherence and avoid delay in future to immunisation schedule.