Abstract

Introduction

The Brazilian National Immunization Program (NIP) regulates, implements and supervises the policies and immunization measures in the country, since its foundation on September 18th , 1973. The NIP aims to fulfill the purposes of the World Health Organization (WHO) of offering immunobiologicals to all children.¹1. Vasconcelos KCE, Rocha SA, Ayres JA. Avaliação normativa das salas de vacinas na rede pública de saúde do Município de Marília, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, 2008-2009. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2012 mar;21(1):167-76.

2. Pedrazzani ES, Cordeiro AMA, Furquim EC, Souza FF. Implantação de um banco de dados em vacinação: experiência desenvolvida em um projeto de integração. Rev Latino-Am Enferm. 2002 nov-dez;10(6):831-6.^-33. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Programa Nacional de Imunizações: 30 anos [Internet]. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2003. [citado 2012 abr 22] (Série C Projetos e Programas e Relatórios). Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/livro_30_anos_pni.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe... The Ministry of Health, through NIP and its planned and systematic actions have achieved the program goals, by defining and putting into practice the national immunization schedule for children, adolescents, adults, the elderly, pregnant women and indigenous people. Furthermore, turning it into an important State program of social scope, broad vaccine coverage, extending to all national territory.³3. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Programa Nacional de Imunizações: 30 anos [Internet]. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2003. [citado 2012 abr 22] (Série C Projetos e Programas e Relatórios). Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/livro_30_anos_pni.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe...

A study carried out in 2000, in a suburb neighborhood in the municipality of Bauru, São Paulo State, when investigating the main causes for missed vaccination opportunity (MVO) related to the mobility of the population, found that out of 79 children under the age of 6 with delayed immunization, only 47 were located by the health services. Other motives for MVO were associated with (i) low education level of the child's parents or guardians (ii) forgetfulness (iii) children's illnesses (iv) opening hours of the primary health care units (UBS) and (v) distance of the UBS from the child's residence.⁴4. Gatti MAN, Oliveira LR. Crianças faltosas à vacinação, condições de vida da família e concepção sobre vacina: um inquérito domiciliar. Salusvita. 2005 mar; 24(3):427-45. Errors in the continuing education of vaccinators may induce to false contraindications, e.g., local reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine, allergy not related to any component of the immunobiological, prematurity or low birth weight, infection of the upper respiratory tract, skin illness - jeopardizing the quality of vaccination.⁵5. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Capacitação de pessoal em sala de vacinação: manual do treinando. 2 ed. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2001. [citado 2011 ago 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/funasa/salavac_treinando_completo.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe...

Other situations that can contribute to the MVO are the precarious facilities of primary health care units, difficulties concerning the management of the service rendered and establishment of fixed days for vaccination, besides the neglect of professionals by not previously observing the vaccination card and vaccination status during visits of beneficiaries to UBS in order to properly schedule medical appointments.⁶6. Rodriguez MLA. Magnitud y causas de oportunidades perdidas en vacunación en población menor de dos años en América. Ces Med. 2001 maio;1(15):71-80.^,77. Santos PCF, Bohland AK, Paixão AC. Oportunidades perdidas de vacinação em hospital de referência pediátrica, em Aracaju (SE), Brasil. Rev APS. 2009 jan-mar;12(1):29-38.

In order to ensure an excellent vaccination coverage by the health service, it is necessary to accomplish a series of conducts and action scheming that range from the management and structure to the administration of immunobiologicals. Evidences of missed vaccination opportunity and its contribution to the non-achievement of goals of vaccine coverage targeted by the Ministry of Health⁸8. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Portaria nº 1.498, de 19 de julho de 2013. Redefine o Calendário Nacional de Vacinação, Calendário Nacional de Vacinação dos Povos Indígenas e as Campanhas Nacionais de Vacinação, no âmbito do Programa Nacional de Imunizações (PNI), em todo o território nacional. Diário Oficial da República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília, (DF), 2013 jul 7; Seção 1:31., associated with the scarcity of information regarding MVO⁹9. Expanded programme on immunization: global review of missed opportunities for immunization. Can Commun Dis Rep.1993 Oct;19(19):164-6. in the municipality of Recife, capital of Pernambuco State, justify the conduction of researches on the topic.

The present study aimed to describe aspects related to the missed vaccination opportunity in primary health care units in the Health District II of Recife, Brazil.

Method

This is a descriptive study carried out from August 2011 to June 2012, in vaccination rooms of UBS in Recife, Pernambuco State. In order to achieve such goal, UBS of the Family Health Strategy (ESF) of the Health District II were considered in this study.

In 2010, Recife had a population of 1,422,905 inhabitants from which 19,142 were aged between zero and 1 year old and the infant mortality rate was 13.20 per 1,000 born alive babies.¹⁰10. Pernambuco (estado). Plano Municipal de Saúde 2010-2013 [ citado 2011 out 28]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.recife.pe.gov.br/noticias/arquivos/5916.pdf
http://www.recife.pe.gov.br/noticias/arq... The city occupies an area of 218,498 square kilometers and is divided into 94 neighborhoods, grouped in 18 micro-regions, which are grouped in 6 political-administrative regions - inside the structure of the Health Department - corresponding to Health Districts (HD) of the municipality.¹¹11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Resultados preliminares do Censo Demográfico de 2010 [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010 [citado 2012 abr 22]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/censo2010/resultados_preliminares/default_resultados_preliminares.shtm
http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/...

Vaccinators (technicians and nursing assistants) who work at the UBSs of the Health District II joined the study. The HD II had 18 UBSs, accounting for nearly 11% of all primary health care units of the municipality. For the analysis of vaccination cards with overdue vaccination, a sample calculation was carried out according to the following standards: (i) a sample of 1,639 children under 1 year of age registered in the Family Health Units of the HD II, (ii) a 50% estimated prevalence (unknown) of MVO in the population studied (iii) a 95% confidence interval (95%CI).

The software Epi Info, version 3.5.1 was used to carry out the sample calculations, with the tool StatCalc, which resulted in a sample of 300 children. This process was conducted through stratification with proportional shares according to the UBS and convenience sample. In case of refusal to join the study, there was replacement of the sample.

The data collection of vaccination cards occurred from July to December 2012, in the moment of the children's vaccine screening: parents or the guardian of the children under 1 year of age who took them to the vaccination room and had vaccination cards with overdue immunization were asked to join the study and answer the survey before the immunization procedures were conducted.

The criteria used in the inclusion of participants were: (i) vaccinator (technician or nursing assistant) currently working in the UBS, (ii) children under 1 year of age with overdue vaccination or register of overdue vaccination and (iii) parent or guardian of a child who has overdue vaccination or child with vaccination card that has an overdue immunization record.

The exclusion criteria for the study were the following: technician or nursing assistant inactive in the vaccine room and children above or under 1 year of age with updated vaccination card.

Data collection was performed based on a three-part structured form:

The first part of the data collection was related to the knowledge of vaccinators and answered by technicians or nursing assistants and had 15 objective questions, based on the Manual of rules for vaccination,¹²12. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Fundação Nacional da Saúde. Manual de normas de vacinação [Internet]. 3 ed. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2001. [citado 2011 jun 07]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/funasa/manu_normas_vac.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe... listed below

The second part of the form was filled out by the researcher through on-site observation, based on the assessment tool for the vaccine room.¹³13. Ministério da Sáude (BR). Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Departamento de Vigilância Epidemiológica. Programa Nacional de Imunizações. Programa de avaliação do instrumento de supervisão sala de vacinação [Internet]. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2004. [citado 2011 jun 01]. Disponível em: Disponível em: pni.datasus.gov.br/Download/Paissv/PAISSV-Instrumento.doc
pni.datasus.gov.br/Download/Paissv/PAISS... It evaluated the following technical procedures:

The third part of the form was related to the data collected in the interview with the children's parents or guardians, conducted during the screening, consisting of open questions on the motive(s) for the delay in the immunization schedule.

The following aspects concerning the vaccinators were also taken into account: professional category (assistant; nursing technician); sex (male or female); age (in years), education level (Elementary school; High School; Complete or Incomplete higher education); work experience in vaccination room (in years); specific training in vaccination room (did not receive any training; received 1 or 2, 2 or 3; or more than 3 trainings).

A descriptive analysis was conducted based on the distribution of absolute and relative frequency of variables. Data were analyzed by Epi Info, version 3.5.1 and Microsoft Excel, version 2007.

The study project, in accordance with the Resolution of National Health Council (CNS) No. 466 dated December, 12 2012 was approved by the Ethics Research Committee of the University of Pernambuco (UFPE) under Protocol No. 257/11 and the Certificate of Presentation for Ethics Assessment (CPEA) No. 0261.0.097.000-11. The confidentiality and anonymity of the information were guaranteed to parents and guardians who agreed to join the study All of whom have signed the Term of Consent.

Results

18 UBSs were evaluated, 33 health workers were interviewed and 300 vaccination cards of children under 1 year of age were analyzed. The workers were, on average, 36.6 years old (standard deviation [SD] of 7.6). All of them had complete high school and 13 were still attending or had completed higher education. The most frequent professional category was Nursing Technician. 27 out of 33 workers claimed to have more than 4 years of experience. Only 2 workers affirmed not having received any training in vaccination room. The average of trainings was 3.5 (SD=2.6); the majority had been trained less than a year ago.

Nine (9) professionals thought incorrectly - in other words, interpreted as an indication - situations characterized as vaccine contraindication (Table 1).

Situations of false contraindication were also observed, in which the vaccinators decided not to carry out the vaccination though there was actually no contraindication for the procedure (Table 2).

When they were asked about adverse events following immunization (AEFI), 27 vaccinators answered the questions based on the literature, 6 vaccinators were either not aware of the AEFI or did not describe the events completely. 22 professionals proved knowledge on the immunobiologicals available at the Reference Center for Special Immunobiologicals (RCSI), though 19 of them were not aware of the procedures flow for requesting these immunobiologicals. Furthermore, 24 vaccinators did not investigate the occurrence of AEFI concerning the previous dose.

Most of the professionals (31/33) offered orientation on the interval between the doses supplied and 22 performed active search for absent patients.

With regards to the behavior of the vaccinators with the parent or guardian going to the health unit without the vaccination card of the child, 23 asked them to return later with the report card as a condition to carry out the procedure, 8 researched the records in the electronic memory card (a conduct that contributes to the reduction of MVO) and 4 consulted the health community agent.

From all the unities monitored, 17 had an electronic memory card for children under 1 year of age and 11 organized the patients according to the date of return. The researchers noticed that all the vaccinators verified the age and the interval between recommended doses before the administration of immunobiologicals. In the technical procedure assessment carried out in vaccination rooms (Table 3), all vaccinators verified the age and the interval between doses before the application of immunobiologicals. Of the 18 UBSs visited, 14 vaccination rooms were open for 8 hours or more and, according to the population, just one room was difficult to be accessed; 7 rooms were not exclusively destined for the activity of vaccination and 6 were not properly identified. Concerning the facilities, 6 rooms were smaller than 6 square meters, not meeting the standards established by the National Immunization Programme; the majority of rooms had light-colored, easy-to-clean and rain-tight walls, resistant and non-slip floors.

The ventilation, illumination and the distribution of the furniture in the room failed to meet the requirement in half of the rooms. 9 rooms did not have appropriate protection against direct light. The temperature in 12 rooms surpassed the interval of 18°C-20°C. 11 rooms were in ideal conservation conditions and 13 rooms were in ideal cleaning conditions.

Taking into account the 300 vaccination cards analyzed, 120 (40.0%) had reports on overdue vaccination. The motives for such delay, reported by parents or guardians are presented in Table 4, the top motives were lack of time, forgetfulness and lack of immunobiologicals in the UBS.

Discussion

Most of the vaccinators from the visited UBSs claimed to have experience and to have received training to work in vaccination room. However, these professionals presented conducts that may lead to MVO.⁹9. Expanded programme on immunization: global review of missed opportunities for immunization. Can Commun Dis Rep.1993 Oct;19(19):164-6. The vaccination rooms call for improvements, especially in terms of physical structure and functional organization. More than a third of the children presented vaccination cards with overdue vaccination records, the main excuses given by the parents were the lack of time, forgetfulness and lack of immunobiologicals in the unit. Those aforementioned facts call for an intervention of the professionals of the primary health care units observed.¹⁴14. Brito MFP, Gerin L, Couto ECA, Cunha IS, Corsini MCMM, Gonçalves MC. Caracterização das notificações de procedimentos inadequados na administração de imunobiológicos em Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 2007-2012. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2014 mar; 23(1):33-44.^,1515. Melo GKM, Oliveira JV, Andrade MS. Aspectos relacionados à conservação de vacinas nas unidades básicas de saúde da cidade do Recife - Pernambuco. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2010 mar;19(1):26-33.

The nursing staff is in charge of the vaccination in the UBSs and, according to the legislation, it is composed of workers who can carry out such activity.¹⁵15. Melo GKM, Oliveira JV, Andrade MS. Aspectos relacionados à conservação de vacinas nas unidades básicas de saúde da cidade do Recife - Pernambuco. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2010 mar;19(1):26-33. In the present study, the vast majority of vaccinators had incomplete higher education, and some professionals mentioned that they had not received any training for vaccination rooms. Thus, light should be shed upon this positive aspect: the workers' experience and their education level.

The education in health is an important tool for primary care. The improvement in the quality of the process of communication between health service and families, ¹⁴14. Brito MFP, Gerin L, Couto ECA, Cunha IS, Corsini MCMM, Gonçalves MC. Caracterização das notificações de procedimentos inadequados na administração de imunobiológicos em Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 2007-2012. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2014 mar; 23(1):33-44.^,1616. Luna GLM, Vieira LJES, Souza PF, Lira SVG, Moreira DP, Pereira AS. Aspectos relacionados à administração e conservação de vacinas em centros de saúde no Nordeste do Brasil. Cienc Saude Colet. 2011 fev;16(2):513-21.

17. Molina AC, Godoy I, Carvalho LR, Caldas Júnior AL. Situação vacinal infantil e características individuais e familiares do interior de São Paulo. Acta Sci Health Sci. 2007 jul-dez;29(2):99-106.^-1818. Rey LC. Oportunidades perdidas de vacinação em um hospital infantil de Fortaleza. J Pediatr (Rio J). 1996;72(1):9-13. enhanced by the continuous training of professionals, is of utmost importance to diminish cases of missed vaccination opportunity. Attention should be drawn to the fact that continuous education enables the professional to keep up to the latest scientific or immunobiological technology progresses,¹⁶16. Luna GLM, Vieira LJES, Souza PF, Lira SVG, Moreira DP, Pereira AS. Aspectos relacionados à administração e conservação de vacinas em centros de saúde no Nordeste do Brasil. Cienc Saude Colet. 2011 fev;16(2):513-21. contributing to a higher level of confidence among professionals when it comes to vaccine indication.

Vaccines were not administered in situations considered appropriate, e.g., malnutrition, mild diarrhea, cough or rhinitis, family record of convulsion, among others, also referred as false contraindications ¹⁸18. Rey LC. Oportunidades perdidas de vacinação em um hospital infantil de Fortaleza. J Pediatr (Rio J). 1996;72(1):9-13. - what compromises the quality of vaccine coverage.⁵5. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Capacitação de pessoal em sala de vacinação: manual do treinando. 2 ed. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2001. [citado 2011 ago 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/funasa/salavac_treinando_completo.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe... Nevertheless, cases of contraindicated vaccines were verified, what may favor risks of adverse events and further complications.¹⁹19. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Departamento de Vigilância Epidemiológica. Manual de vigilância epidemiológica de eventos adversos pós-vacinação [Internet]. 2 ed. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2008. [citado 2011 jun 18]. (Série A. Manual e Normas Técnicas em Saúde) Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/manual_pos-vacinacao.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe...

Most of the professionals correctly conceptualize adverse events following immunization (AEFI) - though some were not aware or described those events incompletely. This fact draws attention to a worrisome situation. The information on the possible post vaccination reactions, the accurate identification of cases and the appropriate conduct prevent from the community alienation and non-adherence to the vaccination.⁵5. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Capacitação de pessoal em sala de vacinação: manual do treinando. 2 ed. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2001. [citado 2011 ago 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/funasa/salavac_treinando_completo.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe... ^,2020. Austin H, Campion-Smith C, Thomas S, Ward W. Parents' difficulties with decisions about childhood immunization. Community Pract. 2008 Oct; 81(10):32-5.

The NIP proposes an 100% vaccine coverage. In the attempt to reach this goal, it is necessary identify the individuals with special medical conditions and head them to a Reference Center for Special Immunobiologicals (RCSI) - located in all Brazilian states.³3. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Programa Nacional de Imunizações: 30 anos [Internet]. Brasília (DF): Ministério da Saúde; 2003. [citado 2012 abr 22] (Série C Projetos e Programas e Relatórios). Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/livro_30_anos_pni.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe... Whilst all vaccinators interviewed were aware of the existence of these centers, a considerable amount of them were not aware of how the RCSIs work as well as the types of immunobiologicals available. Attention should be drawn to this special finding, given that this was a study carried out in the capital of a state, with an RCSI properly installed.¹1. Vasconcelos KCE, Rocha SA, Ayres JA. Avaliação normativa das salas de vacinas na rede pública de saúde do Município de Marília, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, 2008-2009. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2012 mar;21(1):167-76.

The vast majority of the interviewed nursing staff registered and oriented the beneficiaries on the intervals between doses and types of vaccines administered, a positive conduct in contrast to a study carried out in the countryside of São Paulo State, where the overdue vaccination was ascribed to the lack of information given in the vaccination room.¹⁷17. Molina AC, Godoy I, Carvalho LR, Caldas Júnior AL. Situação vacinal infantil e características individuais e familiares do interior de São Paulo. Acta Sci Health Sci. 2007 jul-dez;29(2):99-106.

More than half of vaccinators performed active search among UBS patients and most patients had the electronic memory vaccination cards, and a great number of cards was not organized according to the return date. And when asked about their attitude toward attendance of a patient who arrived in the primary health care unit facility without the vaccination card, most of these professionals responded that they did not carry out the vaccine procedure in children without the presentation of the report card, making clear to the parent/guardian that returning to the primary health care unit with the booklet was a required condition for the procedure. The vaccine cards should be organized,¹⁶16. Luna GLM, Vieira LJES, Souza PF, Lira SVG, Moreira DP, Pereira AS. Aspectos relacionados à administração e conservação de vacinas em centros de saúde no Nordeste do Brasil. Cienc Saude Colet. 2011 fev;16(2):513-21. personal and have easy access for the professionals, so that, in case of missing vaccination cards or their absence during immunization screening, the child can be vaccinated, avoiding the MVO and facilitating the search of absent children.²¹21. Tertuliano GC, Stein AT. Atraso vacinal e seus determinantes: um estudo em localidade atendida pela Estratégia Saúde da Família. Cienc Saude Colet. 2011 fev; 16(2):523-30.

Most of the vaccine rooms visited were open for at least 8 hours, a period regarded as ideal by the NIP. A significant number of rooms were not exclusively reserved for vaccination; therefore, they were not appropriately identified. Logistic problems such as the aforementioned ones were also found in the public health system in the city of Marília, São Paulo State¹1. Vasconcelos KCE, Rocha SA, Ayres JA. Avaliação normativa das salas de vacinas na rede pública de saúde do Município de Marília, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, 2008-2009. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2012 mar;21(1):167-76., what can jeopardize the activity of the vaccination room, leading to missed vaccination opportunities.

Some immunization rooms visited in this study did not have appropriate protection against direct light, and the majority had a room temperature above the ideal range. When exposed to discrepant temperature and/or not stored properly, vaccines can lose their quality and effectiveness due to deriving physical or chemical alterations.¹1. Vasconcelos KCE, Rocha SA, Ayres JA. Avaliação normativa das salas de vacinas na rede pública de saúde do Município de Marília, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, 2008-2009. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2012 mar;21(1):167-76.^,1515. Melo GKM, Oliveira JV, Andrade MS. Aspectos relacionados à conservação de vacinas nas unidades básicas de saúde da cidade do Recife - Pernambuco. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2010 mar;19(1):26-33.^,1616. Luna GLM, Vieira LJES, Souza PF, Lira SVG, Moreira DP, Pereira AS. Aspectos relacionados à administração e conservação de vacinas em centros de saúde no Nordeste do Brasil. Cienc Saude Colet. 2011 fev;16(2):513-21.

The main causes for delay in immunization schedule observed in children under 1 year of age were related to forgetfulness and failure to attend on the schedule date due to a parent or guardian's lack of time. The reasons for this lack of time were divided between urgent trips and motives related to work, with the latter being the main reason. Lack of immunobiologicals in the primary health care unit and child illnesses - e.g., otitis, flu, spots on the skin and diarrhea - were also reported for justifying the delay. Health education, by allowing proper guidance on false contraindications, problems caused by vaccination postponement and possible needs for referrals to an RSCE, besides letting parents/guardians know about the vaccine-preventable diseases and their relation to the importance of properly attending the vaccine schedule, is an important strategy to increase adherence tovaccination.¹⁸18. Rey LC. Oportunidades perdidas de vacinação em um hospital infantil de Fortaleza. J Pediatr (Rio J). 1996;72(1):9-13.^,2020. Austin H, Campion-Smith C, Thomas S, Ward W. Parents' difficulties with decisions about childhood immunization. Community Pract. 2008 Oct; 81(10):32-5.

21. Tertuliano GC, Stein AT. Atraso vacinal e seus determinantes: um estudo em localidade atendida pela Estratégia Saúde da Família. Cienc Saude Colet. 2011 fev; 16(2):523-30.

22. Barbieri CLA, Dias C, Santos MAN, Veras MASM, Moraes JC, Petlik MEI. Cobertura vacinal infantil em um serviço filantrópico de atenção primária à saúde do Município de São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em 2010. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2013 mar;22(1):129-39.^-2323. Carneiro SG, Ribeiro TT, Cardoso MDT, Strapasson JF, Costa AFB, et al. Avaliação da cobertura vacinal em crianças de 2 meses a 5 anos na Estratégia Saúde da Família. Cadernos UniFOA. 2013 ago;22:63-72.

In the attempt to increase the immunization opportunities, the Ministry of Health guides some relevant actions to be taken with the population and communities, aiming to raise awareness on false contraindication of vaccination, identifying concerns in relation to adverse reaction to the vaccine, systematically update vaccinators and encourage them to instruct parents or guardians on the importance of the children's vaccination card and the attendance in medical appointments.⁵5. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Capacitação de pessoal em sala de vacinação: manual do treinando. 2 ed. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2001. [citado 2011 ago 15]. Disponível em: Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/funasa/salavac_treinando_completo.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe...

Logistical problems, which lead to the lack of immunobiologicals in immunization rooms, represent a major flaw in the management of the primary health care unit where the product is the main object of the service. This fact was observed and analyzed in a study conducted in the northern region of São Paulo city.²⁴24. Paulo EF. Oportunidades perdidas de vacinação em crianças menores de dois anos de idade, ocorridas nas salas de vacinação, das unidades de saúde da região norte do município de São Paulo [dissertação]. São Paulo: Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenças da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo; 2010. Difficulties in human resources management, such as the absence of vaccinators on vaccine rooms or failure to properly attend the recommended interval between doses ²²22. Barbieri CLA, Dias C, Santos MAN, Veras MASM, Moraes JC, Petlik MEI. Cobertura vacinal infantil em um serviço filantrópico de atenção primária à saúde do Município de São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em 2010. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2013 mar;22(1):129-39.^,2323. Carneiro SG, Ribeiro TT, Cardoso MDT, Strapasson JF, Costa AFB, et al. Avaliação da cobertura vacinal em crianças de 2 meses a 5 anos na Estratégia Saúde da Família. Cadernos UniFOA. 2013 ago;22:63-72. due to the limit imposed by injectable vaccines also compromise the quality of vaccination coverage. ⁶6. Rodriguez MLA. Magnitud y causas de oportunidades perdidas en vacunación en población menor de dos años en América. Ces Med. 2001 maio;1(15):71-80.^,77. Santos PCF, Bohland AK, Paixão AC. Oportunidades perdidas de vacinação em hospital de referência pediátrica, em Aracaju (SE), Brasil. Rev APS. 2009 jan-mar;12(1):29-38.

The present study has limitations with regards to its population and sample. The sampling was not random in the UBS of a Health District, which allows considering the results only for the studied sample. In addition, the children selected were the ones who attended the service, which may underestimate the occurrence of overdue vaccination.

Despite the aforementioned limitations, the results were relevant as to the reasons that contribute to missed vaccination opportunities. There is a need for health education of this population about the dynamic process of the immunization program offered by the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) and its immunobiologicals available, in addition to the importance of compliance with the schedule of vaccines.

Furthermore, priority should be given to training strategies that support the technical and theoretical aspects of daily practice of vaccinators, enabling the qualification and the update of their knowledge and the improvement of the service rendered by primary care to achieve the objectives and goals set by the National Immunization Program - NIP - and break the chain of myths that lead to missed vaccination opportunity in the municipality of Recife.

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History