A National Cross-Sectional Study from the Republic of Kosovo on Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) to Evaluate the Vaccination Status of Children Between 12 and 24 Months of Age During 2018 to 2020

• Published in: Medical science monitor. Basic research 2021-12, Vol.27, p.e934194-e934194-9
• Main Authors: Gllareva, Bashkim Bejtë, Humolli, Isme, Rudhani, Ibrahim, Jakupi, Xhevat, Rexhepi, Jon, Metaj, Tringa, Kafexholli, Ardita, Sopi, Vlora
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child, Preschool; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Female; Human Study; Humans; Immunization - statistics & numerical data; Immunization Schedule; Infant; Kosovo - epidemiology; Lot Quality Assurance Sampling; Male; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination - statistics & numerical data; Vaccination Coverage - statistics & numerical data; Vaccination Hesitancy; Vaccines - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 2325-4416; 2325-4394; 2325-4416
• DOI: 10.12659/MSMBR.934194

BACKGROUND In the Republic of Kosovo, full vaccination status in children under age 2 years includes: 1 dose of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine; 3 doses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib) vaccine; 3 doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV); and 1 dose of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) is a method used to assess the performance of health quality indicators. MATERIAL AND METHODS A national cross-sectional study with children aged between 12 and 24 months from Kosovo was performed between 2018 and 2020. The vaccination status of children was assessed with lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) using randomized samples. RESULTS Among 430 children, more than 90% had completed the full immunization schedule. Delays in children's immunizations were observed. Most vaccinations showed short delays of less than 1 month, followed by delays of up to 3 months. The main reason for vaccination delay was the COVID-19 pandemic, following by child's illness at the scheduled time of vaccination or the parents were too busy to take the child to the vaccination site. Meanwhile, child age was the only parameter that showed difference among non-vaccinated and fully vaccinated (P