A pilot program to improve vaccination status for hospitalized children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Immunization screening is recommended at healthcare encounters to boost coverage but is often confined to primary care.
• Hospitalized children represent a missed opportunity for vaccination assessment and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the immunization status of hospitalized children.
• To determine if an immunization plan before discharge improves vaccination status.

Main Methods:

• A pilot intervention involved screening immunization records for 356 hospitalized children.
• Parents were informed of needed catch-up doses, administered if requested before discharge.

Main Results:

• 73% of children had current vaccinations; 27% needed catch-up doses.
• 25% of needed catch-up doses were administered, increasing vaccination status to 80% post-discharge.
• Human papilloma virus, varicella, and meningococcal vaccines were most frequently needed.

Conclusions:

• This study provides novel data on the immunization status of hospitalized pediatric patients.
• Inpatient immunization screening and intervention can improve vaccination coverage.
• The inpatient setting offers a valuable opportunity to enhance national immunization strategies.