Vaccination coverage for non-funded vaccines in infants and its relationship with sociodemographic factors

Introduction: in Spain, the common nationwide vaccination schedule establishes which vaccines are publicly funded in Spain. However, each regional health administration can fund alternative vaccines within its territory, thus exacerbating health inequalities, as families bear the cost of vaccines not funded in their community. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors on the administration of non-funded vaccines in infants aged 2 months at the Illes Columbretes and Grao primary care centers in Castellón (Valencian Community, Spain). Materials and methods: we conducted a cross-sectional observational and descriptive study in a sample of 115 infants, collecting the data through a questionnaire administered to their parents or legal guardians. This was followed by bivariate, multivariate, and ROC analyses. Results: the bivariate analysis showed that administration of the menACWY vaccine (covering meningococcal serogroups A, C, W and Y) increased with increasing maternal age, increasing educational attainment and active employment in either or both parents, Spanish nationality, acceptance of funded vaccines and decreasing household crowding index. Similarly, administration of the rotavirus vaccine increased with increasing educational attainment of either or both parents, maternal employment, Spanish nationality, acceptance of funded vaccines, previous vaccination of siblings with non-funded vaccines, increasing maternal age and decreasing household crowding index. The multivariate analysis linked vaccination with menACWY with greater maternal educational attainment and age, paternal employment and Spanish nationality, and linked rotavirus vaccination with greater maternal educational attainment, Spanish nationality lower household crowding index values.