Characteristics of families who attend free vaccine fairs

To determine the health care resources and perceived barriers to care of families attending free vaccine fairs.

A cross-sectional survey.

Twelve free vaccine fairs in Denver, Colorado, in 1994.

A total of 533 consecutive parents or guardians of children receiving vaccine at the fairs. Interventions. None.

Survey respondents reported that their children received regular health care through a private physician or health maintenance organization (HMO) (47%), a public clinic (20%), or a hospital-based clinic (14%); 18% had no regular site for health care. Twenty-seven percent of the families carried private insurance, although less than half of these plans covered children's vaccines: 9% were enrolled in an HMO or a preferred provider organization and 13% had Medicaid, whereas 50% had no health insurance. Families who received primary care at a private physician's office (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.01-2.7) and those with no regular site for health care (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.01-4.0) were more likely than those who went to a public clinic or hospital clinic to report free vaccine as the most important reason for attending a vaccine fair. Conversely, families who received well-child care at a hospital clinic were more likely to identify no appointment needed as the most important reason (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1. 4-5.1). Families with private health insurance (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1. 05-4.0) or no health insurance (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.6) were more likely to identify free vaccine as the most important reason for attending a vaccine fair, whereas those enrolled in an HMO or preferred provider organization identified convenient time as the most important reason (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.2-8.3). Families with Medicaid (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-8.3) or with no insurance (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.02-4.6) were more likely than were those with private insurance to identify no appointment needed as the most important reason for attending a vaccine fair.

Most families attending free vaccine fairs have a regular source of health care. For families with private health insurance or with no health insurance, the availability of free vaccine is the major reason to bring their children to a vaccine fair, whereas for families whose insurance routinely covers the cost of childhood vaccine (HMO, Medicaid), convenience is the major determinant.