Retrospective Analysis of Vaccination Coverage Among Rural American Indian Children Admitted With Lower Respiratory...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) exhibit significant hospitalization rate disparities among US infants.
• American Indian (AI) infants experience twice the hospitalization rates for LRTIs compared to non-AI infants.
• Vaccination coverage disparity is a hypothesized cause for observed hospitalization disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vaccination disparities between American Indian and non-American Indian pediatric patients hospitalized for LRTIs.
• To compare vaccination compliance at the time of hospitalization and at present day between racial groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of children under 24 months admitted with an LRTI.
• Data collected from October 2010 to December 2019 at Sanford's Children's Hospital.
• Vaccination status (up-to-date or not) determined by CDC schedule at admission and present day.

Main Results:

• Of 643 patients, 114 were AI and 529 were non-AI.
• AI patients had significantly lower vaccination coverage at LRTI admission (42% AI vs. 70% non-AI).
• AI vaccination coverage declined post-admission (25%), while non-AI coverage remained consistent (69%).

Conclusions:

• Persistent vaccination disparities exist between AI and non-AI infants hospitalized for LRTIs.
• Vaccination coverage gaps widen over time for AI children.
• Targeted vaccination intervention programs are crucial for AI infants in the Northern Plains region.