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[The child immunisation programme--effective but insufficient. Experiences from the Astrid Lindgren pediatric
Åsa Laestadius1, Anna Nilsson2, Rutger Bennet3
1Astrid Lindgrens Barnsjukhus - Stockholm, Sweden Astrid Lindgrens Barnsjukhus - Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Sweden's national immunization program effectively prevents many diseases, but infections like influenza and rotavirus still lead to hospitalizations in children. Expanding vaccination coverage could further decrease hospital admissions for vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
- Public Health
Background:
- The national Swedish immunization program covers diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Pneumococcus, measles, mumps, and rubella.
- Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) remain a concern for childhood morbidity despite existing vaccination efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of the current national immunization program on hospital admissions for VPDs in children.
- To identify the most prevalent VPDs requiring hospitalization in children aged 0-17 years.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of hospital admission data from 2008-2013 at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Stockholm.
- Patient identification through discharge diagnosis codes and clinical microbiology laboratory records.
- Focus on children aged 0-17 years admitted for vaccine-preventable diseases.
Main Results:
- Measles and mumps cases were rare; invasive bacterial diseases were infrequent.
- Influenza A and B, rotavirus, and varicella zoster virus were the dominant pathogens causing hospitalizations.
- Despite the effective national program, VPDs contributed to significant childhood morbidity.
Conclusions:
- The Swedish national immunization program is effective in reducing the incidence of many VPDs.
- Influenza, rotavirus, and varicella zoster virus infections represent key areas for potential improvement in pediatric hospitalizations.
- An expanded vaccination program could potentially lead to a substantial reduction in hospital admissions for VPDs in children.
Abstract:
The national Swedish immunisation programme includes vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Pneumococcus as well as measles, mumps and rubella. Data were collected on hospital admissions for children 0- 17 years of age of vaccine-preventable diseases during 2008-2013 at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Stockholm. Patients were identified by discharge diagnosis codes as well as from the clinical microbiology laboratory. There were rare cases of measles and mumps, and only a few cases of invasive bacterial diseases. The dominating pathogens were influenza A and B, rotavirus and varicella zoster virus. Our national programme is effective, but vaccine preventable infections still cause significant morbidity in young children. An extended vaccine programme might significantly reduce the need of hospitalisations.