Vaccination coverage in hard to reach Roma children in Slovenia.

The results of the retrospective analysis of data on vaccination coverage in the preschool-aged and school-aged Roma children (436 preschool and 551 schoolchildren) in three geographical regions of Slovenia were analyzed to establish the differences concerning coverage for specific vaccinations: poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella between the two generation. The data were obtained from health records, immunization records (Vaccination booklet) and National Computerized Immunization System (CEPI 2000). Vaccination coverage was calculated by comparing the number of children eligible for immunization with the number of vaccinated children. This article performs the log-rank statistical test, also known as the Mantel-Haenszel test. Log rang test is comparing survival curves for two generations. Preschool-aged Roma children showed higher vaccination coverage than the school-aged Roma generation. There was no significance difference in the generations of preschool aged and school aged Roma children fully vaccinated against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Rubella vaccination was significantly lower in the school aged Roma generation. Only 33% of school aged Roma population received two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Vaccination coverage of preschool Roma children in Slovenia against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) were significantly lower then the national vaccination coverage for preschool aged Slovenia children. Many joint efforts will have to be made to improve the vaccination coverage in Roma communities.