Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Sublingual Immunotherapy as an Alternative to Induce Protection Against Acute Respiratory Infections
16:56

Sublingual Immunotherapy as an Alternative to Induce Protection Against Acute Respiratory Infections

Published on: August 30, 2014

17.8K

Vaccine schedule compliance among very low birth weight infants in Lima, Peru

Theresa J Ochoa1, Alonso Zea-Vera2, Rossana Bautista3

  • 1Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Lima, Peru; University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, United States.

Vaccine
|December 3, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Vaccination schedules for very-low-birth-weight infants in Peru are often delayed, particularly for those under 1000g. Improvements require targeted educational interventions for healthcare providers to enhance vaccination rates and timing.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Vaccinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Limited data exists on vaccine schedule adherence for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in developing nations.
  • Peru lacks comprehensive information on vaccination compliance in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess and describe vaccination schedule compliance among VLBW infants in Lima, Peru.
  • To identify factors influencing vaccination timeliness in VLBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study followed 222 VLBW infants (birth weight <1500g) from birth to 12 months in four Lima hospitals.
  • Infant data, including birth weight, gestational age, and vaccination dates, were meticulously recorded every two weeks.

Main Results:

  • VLBW infants, especially those <1000g, experienced significant delays in receiving primary vaccine doses (pentavalent, oral polio, rotavirus, pneumococcal).
  • Mean ages for initial vaccine doses varied significantly by birth weight strata (e.g., pentavalent vaccine at 4.3 months for <1000g vs. 3.1 months for 1000-1500g).
  • While 35% received complete initial doses by 7 months, 81% achieved this by 9 months, indicating a catch-up phenomenon.

Conclusions:

  • Vaccination in Peruvian VLBW infants is significantly delayed, with lower birth weight and gestational age being key risk factors.
  • Urgent educational interventions for healthcare professionals are crucial to improve vaccination timeliness and coverage in this high-risk group.
Abstract

Keywords:
Developing countriesVaccinesVery low birth weight infant

More Related Videos

Immunization of Alpacas Lama pacos with Protein Antigens and Production of Antigen-specific Single Domain Antibodies05:27

Immunization of Alpacas Lama pacos with Protein Antigens and Production of Antigen-specific Single Domain Antibodies

Published on: January 26, 2019

25.1K
Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling07:11

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

9.8K

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
935
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
54.7K
Vaccines01:21

Vaccines

Vaccines are among the most effective tools in preventive medicine, designed to prepare the immune system to recognize and combat infectious agents. By introducing antigens—substances that the immune system identifies as foreign—vaccines stimulate an adaptive immune response that leads to immunological memory. This immunological memory enables the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon future exposures to the actual pathogen.Vaccines can be categorized based on the...
63
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
392
Vaccine Production01:23

Vaccine Production

Vaccine production involves a sequence of upstream and downstream processes to generate a safe and effective immunological product. It begins with cultivating microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria, to obtain antigenic material. For viral vaccines, mammalian host cells are grown in bioreactors and subsequently infected with the target virus. The virus replicates within the host cells, which are lysed to release viral particles. This lysate is then clarified through filtration or...
108
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
351