Vaccine coverage for Lebanese citizens and Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Following the refugee crisis in Lebanon, the on-going inflow of Syrian refugees presented new challenges to optimal immunization coverage for all the children living in the country. Healthcare facilities have been overburdened during this period and the country witnessed outbreaks of many infectious diseases. Thus, the evaluation of vaccine compliance for mandatory and non-mandatory vaccines as well as the factors affecting the vaccination rate among Lebanese residents and Syrian refugees is fundamental.

Since 2012, Lebanon has hosted around 1.2 million Syrian refugees, a high number in a country whose population does not exceed 4.4 million. Healthcare facilities have been overburdened during this period, which has led to the spread of many infectious diseases, including outbreaks of measles, mumps and hepatitis. At the appearance of such outbreaks, it becomes essential to evaluate vaccine compliance and the factors influencing the vaccination rate among Lebanese residents and Syrian refugees in infants and children up to 15 y of age.

A total of 571 infants and children were recruited in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, two governorates that together host half of the Lebanese population.

A very high rate of vaccine compliance was seen for mandatory vaccines, whereas an intermediate to very low rate of compliance was found for non-mandatory vaccines. Both bivariate and multiple regression analyses indicated that age group and regular consultation of a pediatrician were independently associated with immunization coverage. Bivariate analysis indicated that parental age, occupational and educational status of parents, family size and vaccine price were also independently associated with immunization coverage. Incomplete vaccination coverage was associated with socioeconomic factors.

From these results, it becomes apparent that it may be necessary to reassess vaccination priorities considering the current socioeconomic situation.