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Vaccination coverage and serological follow-up in children with rheumatologic diseases: a retrospective single-centre

Ilias Grafas1, Laure F Pittet1,2,3, Manel Mejbri3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal
|June 24, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Vaccination coverage for pediatric rheumatology patients is suboptimal, especially for varicella, hepatitis B, and pneumococcus. Optimizing immunization at diagnosis and implementing systematic serologic surveillance are crucial for this high-risk group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Rheumatology
  • Immunology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Children with rheumatologic diseases often require immunosuppressive therapy, increasing infection risk.
  • Vaccination coverage in this vulnerable group is frequently suboptimal due to safety concerns and lack of clear guidelines.
  • Assessing pre-treatment immunity is vital for proactive management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the vaccination status and serological immunity in pediatric rheumatology patients at diagnosis.
  • To establish a baseline before initiating immunosuppressive therapies.
  • To inform vaccination strategies in this high-risk population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for children under 16 diagnosed with rheumatologic diseases.
  • Data collection included demographics, diagnosis, vaccination history, and vaccine-specific serologies.
  • Analysis of vaccination coverage and seroprotection levels at diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • Seventy-four patients were analyzed; vaccination coverage varied, with highest rates for Hib (93%) and lowest for HBV (64%).
  • Seroprotection was highest for Hib (100%) but suboptimal for HBV (58%), varicella (47%), and pneumococcus (42%).
  • Limited serological monitoring and booster vaccinations were observed post-diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • Vaccination coverage for key vaccines like varicella, hepatitis B, and pneumococcus remains suboptimal in pediatric rheumatology patients.
  • There is a critical need to optimize immunization at diagnosis and implement systematic serologic surveillance.
  • Relying solely on vaccine history is insufficient; proactive serological assessment is essential for this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
Haemophilus influenzae type bHepatitis BImmunosuppressionMeaslesPediatric rheumatologyPneumococcusRheumatologic diseasesVaccination coverageVaccine seroprotectionVaricella

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