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Vaccine-Preventable Admissions to an Irish Paediatric Intensive Care
Y Doyle1, M Healy1,2, C McMahon1,2
1Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12.
Insights
Many preventable childhood infections lead to severe illness and death, even in healthy children. Increased vaccination coverage is crucial to reduce the burden of these diseases on healthcare systems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The Republic of Ireland offers a comprehensive state-funded immunization schedule for children.
- Vaccines for varicella and meningococcal B are available but not government-funded.
- Vaccine-preventable illnesses can cause significant child morbidity and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the continued occurrence of serious, preventable infections in children admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
- To underscore the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases on children, families, and healthcare resources.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) admissions over a 4-year period.
- Review of infection types, outcomes, and patient health status.
Main Results:
- 39 children were admitted to the PICU over 4 years due to preventable infections.
- Nine children contracted pneumococcus, resulting in 4 deaths.
- One child died from pertussis; most infections occurred in previously healthy children.
Conclusions:
- Vaccine-preventable diseases pose a significant threat, causing severe illness and death in children, including those who are otherwise healthy.
- These preventable conditions place a substantial burden on children, families, and healthcare resources.
- There is a need to address the burden of these infections, potentially through enhanced vaccination strategies.
Abstract:
In the Republic of Ireland, the schedule of state-funded immunisation for children is comprehensive and includes diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcus, hepatitis B, meningococcus C, haemophilus B, polio, measles, rubella and mumps. Varicella and meningococcal B vaccines are commercially available but are not currently funded by the government. Each of the illnesses preventable by these vaccines can cause substantial morbidity, and rarely mortality, in infants and children. Our PICU continues to see serious illness due to avoidable infection. There were 39 admissions in a 4 year period, with 34 children surviving to discharge. Nine children were infected with pneumococcus, with 4 deaths. There was one case of pertussis, causing death. Most infections occurred in previously healthy children. These preventable conditions represent a significant burden on children, families, and on social and healthcare resources.
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