Immunization status of a military dependent population
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Published on: January 8, 2020
1Department of Pediatrics, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889-5000.
Insights
Many active duty pediatric dependents had delayed immunizations, with 13.9% missing required vaccines. Parental unfamiliarity with the vaccine schedule was the primary reason, highlighting a need for improved record-keeping and patient education.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Assessing immunization compliance is crucial for pediatric population health.
- Active duty military families represent a unique demographic for immunization status evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the immunization compliance of pediatric dependents of active duty personnel.
- To identify specific vaccine delays and contributing factors within this population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of medical and immunization records was conducted.
- Four hundred sixteen pediatric patients presenting to an acute care clinic were analyzed.
- Compliance was assessed against age-appropriate immunization requirements.
Main Results:
- Ten percent of patients had incomplete immunization records.
- Of the 375 patients with complete records, 13.9% were deficient in one or more immunizations.
- Delays were most common for Haemophilus influenzae, measles, mumps, rubella, and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of pediatric dependents experienced immunization delays.
- Parental unfamiliarity with recommended immunization schedules was a key identified barrier.
- Enhancing immunization record accuracy and patient education is recommended to improve compliance.
Abstract:
The immunization status of active duty pediatric dependents served by the National Naval Medical Center was surveyed to estimate the degree to which this group was in compliance with immunization requirements. Four hundred sixteen patients who presented consecutively to a pediatric acute care clinic had their medical and immunization records screened. Ten percent of patients did not have complete records of immunization. Of the 375 patients remaining, 52 (13.9%) were deficient in one or more required immunizations based on their current age. The highest rates of delay were seen for the Haemophilus influenza vaccine followed by measles, mumps, rubella, and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The most common reason for missing immunizations was parental unfamiliarity with the recommended schedule. This study suggests that a significant number of dependents in our catchment area were delayed in immunization and that accurate record keeping and patient education about immunizations needs to be improved.
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