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Influenza vaccination coverage and timeliness among children requiring two doses, 2004-2009

Annika M Hofstetter1, Karthik Natarajan, Raquel Andres Martinez

  • 1Division of Child and Adolescent Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. amh2162@columbia.edu

Preventive Medicine
|December 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Low-income, minority children needing two flu vaccine doses often have delayed or incomplete vaccination. This study highlights ongoing risks and missed opportunities for timely influenza immunization in this vulnerable group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Seasonal influenza vaccination is crucial for children, especially those requiring two doses.
  • Understanding vaccination coverage and timeliness is essential for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate influenza vaccination coverage and timeliness in children aged 6 months to 8 years who require two doses per season.
  • To identify trends, determinants, and missed opportunities in pediatric influenza vaccination.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 17,800 children from New York City clinics (2004-2010).
  • Utilized hospital and city immunization registries to assess vaccination status.
  • Calculated coverage by specific dates and analyzed dose intervals, trends, and predictors.

Main Results:

  • Full vaccination by March 31 increased from 9% to 29% over study seasons, but few received both doses by December 15.
  • The interval between the two doses was significantly longer than recommended (52-64 days) and increased over time.
  • Latino ethnicity and older age were associated with lower full vaccination rates; missed opportunities for the second dose were frequent.

Conclusions:

  • Despite improvements, significant gaps persist in timely and complete influenza vaccination for low-income, minority children needing two doses.
  • Further research into barriers and strategies is needed to ensure adequate pediatric influenza immunization.
  • Targeted interventions are necessary to improve influenza vaccine uptake in at-risk pediatric populations.
Abstract

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