Dr Gill also believes that asking for immunisation schedule during school admission too can motivate parents to get their children immunised.
Berating parents for losing the immunisation card is the single largest reason why many children living in urban slums will never be brought back for their regular vaccinations, according to a study by four Mumbai-based doctors. Published recently in the International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, the study was conducted in Mankhurd slums populated by Project Affected Persons (PAPs).
The study covered 210 children aged 12-23 months. While most children had received polio vaccinations and BCG, there was 1.43% who had missed all vaccinations. Rude behaviour of healthcare workers was blamed by many parents who were yelled at for losing the immunisation cards.
"Those administering vaccinations need to be emphatic about the conditions of the patients, most of who are from lower middle class families. They should be helped," said Dr Naresh Gill, assistant director, Doctors for You.
Dr Gill also believes that asking for immunisation schedule during school admission too can motivate parents to get their children immunised.
The child not being well is another reason parents cited routinely for skipping immunisation. "Unless the child has very high fever or convulsions, there is no reason why s/he should not be given vaccinations," added Dr Gill.
He believes that the myth is perpetuated by the BMC workers who are reluctant to take a call in the absence of doctors if a child, who is unwell, is brought to them during a routine drive.
Other factors likely to affect immunisation were if the mother was not educated or if the child was third or lower in the birth order. If the immunisation card was lost, the likelihood of parents approaching the healthcare workers again was reduced significantly.
Incentives, however, can turn the scene around. Doctors for You provides soap bars to those bringing their children for immunisation. The Sundara project in Kalwa does the same. "We have seen the immunisation go up by around 15% since we started this programme in Govandi and Mankhurd," said Dr Ravikant Singh, president, Doctors for You, who also co-authored this study.
"We are providing soap barely worth Rs15, but that is making a huge difference. If the government can provide incentives for immunisation as it does to promote institutional delivery and DOTS, then it can surely make a huge difference," he added.
Know the facts
*In India only 44% of children between ages 12 and 23 months are fully vaccinated (NFHS-3)
* Coverage was found to be highest for polio vaccine followed by DPT and HBV
* Pockets likely to miss immunisation are those in slums, street children and children from resettlement colonies
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "polio")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}