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Adverse reactions to immunization with newer vaccines in the very preterm infant

Vanessa J Ellison1, Peter G Davis, Lex W Doyle

  • 1Division of Newborn Services, The Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia. vanessa.ellison@fmc.sa.gov.au

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|August 17, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Fever is a common adverse reaction in very preterm infants after receiving routine immunizations. Despite newer vaccines, monitoring for side effects like fever remains important for infant health.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Vaccinology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Very preterm infants (< or =30 weeks gestational age) have unique physiological considerations for vaccination.
  • Assessing adverse reactions to routine infant immunizations is crucial for this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency and types of adverse reactions following routine vaccinations in very preterm infants.
  • To evaluate the safety profile of current vaccine formulations in this specific infant group.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case note review of very preterm infants (< or =30 weeks GA) who received their first immunization between 1999-2003.
  • Data extraction focused on adverse events (apnea, respiratory support, fever) within 48 hours pre- and post-immunization.
  • Blinded data collection to ensure objective assessment of vaccine-related effects.

Main Results:

  • 33% of infants developed low-grade fever post-immunization, compared to none pre-immunization (P < 0.001).
  • No significant changes in apnea or respiratory support were observed.
  • No serious adverse events were reported; four infants had elevated C-reactive protein but negative sepsis workups.

Conclusions:

  • Fever is a frequent adverse event following immunization in preterm infants, even with modern vaccines.
  • Current vaccine schedules appear generally safe for very preterm infants, with fever being the most common reaction.
  • Continued vigilance for adverse events post-vaccination in preterm infants is warranted.
Abstract

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