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[Insufficient vaccination status of children with a chronic disease]
1Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen-Beatrix Kinderkliniek, afd. Kindergeneeskunde.
Insights
Children with chronic diseases often have delayed or incomplete immunizations, missing crucial vaccination opportunities. This study highlights the risks associated with incomplete vaccination schedules in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Immunology
- Public Health
Context:
- Children with chronic diseases require careful monitoring of their vaccination status.
- Hospitalized children may miss routine immunization schedules.
- Assessing vaccination timeliness is crucial for preventing infectious diseases.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the vaccination status of children with chronic diseases.
- To determine the extent of vaccination delays in this cohort.
- To identify missed vaccination opportunities in hospitalized children.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed vaccination data for 71 children with chronic diseases.
- While diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-poliomyelitis (DTPP) coverage was over 90%, significant delays were noted.
- Mumps-measles-rubella (MMR) coverage was 86%, with 79% of children receiving vaccinations late and numerous missed opportunities during hospitalization.
Impact:
- Children with chronic conditions are at a higher risk for incomplete and delayed immunizations.
- Findings underscore the need for improved vaccination strategies in pediatric chronic care.
- Timely vaccination is essential for protecting vulnerable children from preventable diseases.
Objective:
To determine whether the vaccination status of children with a chronic disease in adequate, what amount of delay occurs and whether vaccination opportunities are missed.
Design:
Retrospective descriptive.
Setting:
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Methods:
Vaccination data of all 79 children with chronic diseases admitted to the infant and toddler ward of the Beatrix Children's Hospital between January 1 and December 31 1993 were obtained through review of hospital admission charts and local Vaccination Administration records, as well as through telephone contacts with the parents. The data of 71 children were complete; these were compared with the vaccination guidelines with respect to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-poliomyelitis (DTPP) vaccination and mumps-measles-rubella (MMR) vaccination.
Results:
Vaccination coverage for DTPP reached over 90% although for DTPP 3 and 4 with a delay of more than 3 months. MMR vaccination coverage was 86%. Only 21% of the patients received all vaccinations within a period of 1 month after the recommended age. Among the remaining 79% of children 56 opportunities were missed to administer vaccines during admission. Twenty-one times the possibility to administer DTPP and MMR simultaneously was missed.
Conclusion:
Children with a chronic disease run a high risk of incomplete and delayed immunization.