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Underimmunization of very low birth weight infants at discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit
Veronica Quiett1, Elizabeth Thompson2, Sudha R Raman2
1North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, NC, USA.
Objective:
To quantify immunization status among premature infants discharged from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and identify risk factors for underimmunization.
Study Design:
We performed a cohort study of infants <33 weeks gestation discharged home between 2011 and 2020 from 241 NICUs. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between risk factors and underimmunization at discharge, defined as <1 dose of 5 vaccine types when discharged at 60-119 days of age and <2 doses when discharged at 120-179 days of age.
Results:
Of 30,766 infants discharged at 60-119 days of age, 14% were underimmunized. Among 4358 infants discharged at 120-179 days of age, 53% were underimmunized. For infants discharged at 60-119 days of age, ventilator support within 30 days of discharge was associated with underimmunization. Having a surgical procedure was associated with underimmunization in both groups.
Conclusion:
A large proportion of premature infants discharged from the NICU are underimmunized.
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