Vaccination deferral among children with seizures in Zhejiang: influence, recommendation, safety and implications

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Immunology

Background:

• Delayed childhood vaccination is prevalent in China, particularly for children experiencing seizures.
• Seizures are often misperceived as absolute contraindications for routine immunizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess vaccination status, deferral reasons, and safety in children with seizures in Zhejiang, China.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for vaccinating this vulnerable pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 1539 children with various seizure types (febrile seizure, epilepsy, etc.).
• Data collection via questionnaires for deferral reasons and review of vaccination records and adverse events.
• Categorization of children into febrile seizure, epilepsy, unclassified, and other symptomatic seizure groups.

Main Results:

• Most children (95.6%) were vaccinated before seizure onset, but delays occurred post-seizure.
• 76.1% received recommendations for normal vaccination, with febrile seizure patients having the highest proportion (90.3%).
• 88.73% were vaccinated as recommended, with no serious adverse events or seizure exacerbations reported; provider/parent hesitation was the primary deferral reason.

Conclusions:

• Seizures are frequently overestimated as contraindications for vaccination, leading to unnecessary delays.
• Routine vaccination is generally safe and recommended for children with seizures.
• Educational initiatives for healthcare providers and parents are essential to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure timely immunization.