Immunisation coverage at a well-baby clinic in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates Survey of Immunisation Coverage by UNICEF in 1990 showed that the coverage for UAE infants up to one year of age was 60%. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with attendanc e and immunisation uptake at a well-baby clinic. A birth cohort of 665 infa nts were selected and their records examined to determine the factors such as gender, distance of housing area from clinic and access to other primary health care facilities. Only 22% attended all the scheduled visits and 54. 3% of the sample completed the immunisation program within the correct time . The distance the infant lived from the clinic was the only factor signifi cantly affecting immunisation uptake. The identification and targeting of g roups at high risk of delayed completion of the immunisation program is a n ecessary risk factor in improving future surveillance.