Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Fabrication of Pulsatile Polymeric Microparticles Encapsulating Rabies Antigen
07:44

Fabrication of Pulsatile Polymeric Microparticles Encapsulating Rabies Antigen

Published on: May 12, 2023

Optimizing immunization in pediatric special risk groups

Nigel W Crawford1, Julie E Bines, Jenny Royle

  • 1SAEFVIC, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. nigel.crawford@rch.org.au

Expert Review of Vaccines
|February 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric special risk groups need tailored vaccination strategies to prevent serious diseases. This includes careful consideration of immunosuppression and utilizing methods like cocooning for enhanced protection.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Immunology
  • Vaccinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Children with special risk conditions face increased susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • These groups often have underlying chronic illnesses and may be undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Optimizing immunization is crucial for preventing severe outcomes in these vulnerable populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current evidence and recommended practices for immunizing pediatric special risk groups.
  • To highlight management considerations and vaccination strategies for specific conditions.
  • To emphasize the importance of timely vaccination and minimizing missed opportunities.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing literature and immunization guidelines.
  • Case examples of four special risk groups: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, preterm birth, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Discussion of vaccination risks, benefits, and timing, particularly concerning immunosuppression and live-attenuated vaccines.

Main Results:

  • Immunogenicity data in special risk groups inform current immunization guidelines.
  • Vaccination strategies must account for individual patient conditions, especially immunosuppression.
  • Cocooning, vaccinating the immediate family, is a key protective measure.

Conclusions:

  • Tailored immunization protocols are essential for pediatric special risk groups.
  • Close collaboration between clinicians and careful vaccine selection are necessary.
  • Improving vaccination timeliness and uptake significantly enhances protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

More Related Videos

Murine Model of Epicutaneously-Induced Immunomodulation09:07

Murine Model of Epicutaneously-Induced Immunomodulation

Published on: June 24, 2025

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens13:47

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens

Published on: May 19, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Smallpox01:24

Smallpox

Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...