[Vaccination of premature infants]

The article gives a review of the literature concerning immunization of preterm infants. The initial response to diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell-pertussis vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine may be impaired in preterms, but after two and three doses the responses to these vaccines is comparable to those of term infants of the same chronological age. Likewise, the response to oral polio vaccine is normal and independent of gestational age after two and three doses in preterm infants. After two doses, the response to Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine is impaired in preterm infants with very low gestational age, but comparable to that of term infants in preterms with higher gestational ages. After three doses the response to this vaccine is normal and unaffected by gestational age in preterms. Recombinant hepatitis b vaccine induces a reduced response in preterm infants even after three doses, and they may therefore need an extra dose of this vaccine. Studies of diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell-pertussis vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine in preterm infants do not suggest that adverse effects occur more often or are more severe than those seen in term infants. The literature provides no background for postponement of immunizations in preterm infants.