Current vaccination status and safety of children with peripheral neuroblastoma in the real-world

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• Peripheral neuroblastic tumors (pNT) present a significant health challenge in children, often coinciding with increased susceptibility to infections.
• Understanding the immunization status of pediatric pNT patients is crucial for managing their overall health and preventing vaccine-preventable diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the real-world immunization coverage among children diagnosed with pNT.
• To investigate the incidence of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in this vulnerable population.
• To evaluate the feasibility and influencing factors of vaccination in children with pNT.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzing medical records of children with pNT treated between January 1, 2011, and December 1, 2021.
• Data collection included vaccination history for national immunization program (NIP) vaccines and records of AEFIs.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine vaccination rates, safety, and associated factors.

Main Results:

• Of 784 children with pNT, vaccination history was available for 394. Overall NIP vaccine coverage was 71.49% before chemotherapy and decreased to 37.67% after chemotherapy.
• The median recovery time for vaccination post-treatment was 16 months. Age, tumor diagnosis timing, and disease classification significantly impacted vaccination status.
• The incidence of AEFI was low, reported at 0.23‰.

Conclusions:

• Children with pNT exhibit suboptimal vaccination rates, especially post-chemotherapy, highlighting a critical gap in preventive care.
• Vaccination in children with pNT is demonstrated to be safe, with a low incidence of adverse events.
• Encouraging and facilitating immunization for children with pNT is essential for improving their health outcomes and reducing infection risks.