Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

04:43
COVID-19 Seroprevalence Test for IgG Antibody Levels Among Healthy Donors Across Different Pandemic Phases in Jeddah
Published on: June 24, 2025
Missed Opportunities for Immunization: A Saudi Arabia survey
Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien
|January 12, 2011
Summary
Many children missed immunization opportunities in Saudi health centers, highlighting a need for improved vaccine access. Requiring immunization cards could increase vaccination coverage for children and mothers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Immunization Practices
Background:
- Immunization is crucial for child survival and disease prevention.
- Assessing immunization coverage and identifying missed opportunities is vital for public health.
- Previous studies in Saudi Arabia have explored vaccination trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate missed immunization opportunities in Saudi health centers.
- To determine the proportion of children up-to-date with their vaccinations.
- To assess maternal immunization status.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted at five Saudi health centers.
- Data were collected on 383 children's immunization records.
- Analysis included vaccination status, contraindications, and missed opportunities.
Main Results:
- 77.8% of children were up-to-date with immunizations.
- 12.0% of children experienced missed immunization opportunities.
- Only 48.8% of mothers had up-to-date immunization records.
Conclusions:
- Significant missed opportunities for childhood immunization exist in Saudi health centers.
- Recommendations include expanding immunization services and enforcing immunization card requirements.
- Improving maternal immunization awareness and access is also essential.
Related Concept Videos
Vaccinations
Overview
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Preventive Healthcare Services
Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
Smallpox
Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
Principles of Disease Surveillance
Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...