Household costs of seeking BCG vaccination in rural Guinea-Bissau. Issue 37 (3rd September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thysen, Sanne M.; Byberg, Stine; Martins, Justiniano S.D.; Kallestrup, Per; Griffiths, Ulla K.; Fisker, Ane B.
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 37:Issue 37(2019)
• Page Start: 5505
• Page End: 5508
• Publication Date: 2019-09-03
• Subjects: BCG vaccination -- Household cost -- Vaccination cost; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.08.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: BCG vaccine vials with 20 doses must be used within 6 hours of reconstitution. To reduce vaccine wastage a vial of BCG is often not opened for every child. We assessed missed opportunities of BCG vaccination and household cost of seeking BCG. Infants were on average brought to health centers 1.26 times before obtaining BCG. The household cost was 1.89 USD per vaccinated child - similar to the price of a BCG vial. Abstract: In Guinea-Bissau, a vial of BCG vaccine is often not opened unless 10 infants are present for vaccination, with the aim of reducing vaccine wastage. This causes delays in vaccination, as previously demonstrated in Guinea-Bissau and other low-income countries. Reducing wastage of BCG vaccine to save money may deprive infants of important health benefits and transfer costs from the vaccination programme to mothers. Using the Bandim Health Project's rural Health and Demographic Surveillance System, we interviewed mothers of infants aged 1–11 months about household costs of seeking BCG vaccination. On average mothers took their infant for BCG vaccination 1.26 times before obtaining the vaccine. For mothers who had sought BCG vaccine for their infants the average cost was 1.89 USD for each BCG-vaccinated infant. Among BCG-unvaccinated infants at the time of interview, 42% had brought their infant for BCG vaccination in vain at an average cost of 2.83 USD.