Vaccination coverage in children under one year of age and associated socioeconomic factors: maps of spatial heterogeneity

This study examined vaccination coverage patterns in children under one year old across 853 municipalities in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and identified which socioeconomic factors predict whether communities meet vaccination targets. Using spatial analysis, researchers found clusters of areas with low vaccination coverage for pentavalent, polio, meningococcal, yellow fever, rotavirus, and pneumococcal vaccines. Lower household incomes and higher poverty levels were strongly associated with failure to meet vaccination goals. The findings suggest that vaccination services and outreach efforts should be targeted to geographically-identified areas with lower socioeconomic status.

Key points

• Spatial clusters with risk of low vaccination coverage were identified for all six vaccines studied
• Per capita household income up to half the minimum wage was associated with not meeting coverage goals
• Percentage of poor or extremely poor population was a significant predictor of vaccination coverage
• The Minas Gerais Social Responsibility Index was associated with meeting established coverage goals
• Results can guide targeted intervention design for vaccination services in low-coverage clusters

Limitations

This is an ecological study of municipalities rather than individuals, so it cannot establish causation at the individual level or account for individual-level variation in vaccination access. The document does not report detailed coverage rates or magnitudes of association for the socioeconomic factors identified.