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[Survey of vaccination for physically-handicapped and epileptic children]
M Sakakibara1, Y Kasahara, H Nishimura
1Department of Pediatrics, Ishikawa Seishi Gakuen Hospital, Kanazawa, Ishikawa.
Insights
This study assessed vaccination rates in 128 handicapped children, finding lower immunization coverage than healthy peers. However, influenza vaccination significantly reduced fever duration, demonstrating safety and efficacy in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Public Health
Context:
- Assesses vaccination status and outcomes in 128 handicapped patients aged 3-15 years at Seishi Gakuen Hospital.
- Compares immunization rates against 8 vaccines (DPT, BCG, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, varicella, Japanese B encephalitis) to healthy children in Kanazawa City.
- Investigates vaccination rates in relation to epilepsy and hospitalization status (inpatients vs. outpatients).
Purpose:
- To evaluate the immunization rates of handicapped children.
- To assess the safety and effectiveness of influenza vaccination in this cohort.
- To compare vaccination coverage with that of the general healthy population.
Summary:
- Vaccination rates for 8 common vaccines were lower in handicapped patients compared to healthy children.
- No significant difference in vaccination rates was observed between patients with and without epilepsy.
- Hospitalized patients showed higher vaccination rates than outpatients.
- Over 90% of hospitalized patients received influenza vaccination under informed consent in 1997-1998.
- Influenza vaccination significantly reduced fever duration during pandemics in 1997-1998 compared to 1996.
- Vaccination, including in patients with epilepsy, was generally safe with few side effects.
Impact:
- Highlights potential gaps in routine immunization for handicapped children.
- Demonstrates the protective benefits and safety of influenza vaccination in a vulnerable pediatric population.
- Provides evidence for improved public health strategies for vaccinating children with disabilities.
Abstract:
We studied immunization for 128 handicapped patients, from 3 to 15 years of age, in a Seishi Gakuen Hospital, with 8 vaccines: diphtheria-purified acellular pertussis-tetanus combined (DPT), BCG, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, varicella, and Japanese B encephalitis. The rate of vaccination in these patients was lower than in healthy children at 3 years of age in Kanazawa City. There was no significant difference between patients with and without epilepsy. The rate was higher in the hospitalized patients than in the outpatients. More than 90% of the hospitalized patients was immunized against influenza under informed consent in 1997 and 1998. Despite pandemics of influenza in Kanazawa City, where the hospital was located, the period of fever by influenza was significantly shorter in our patients in both 1997 and 1998 than in 1996. Although a half of our patients had epilepsy, they were safely vaccinated with few side effects.