TY - JOUR
TI - Admissions due to vaccine preventable diseases in a large paediatric
intensive care unit in Greece over a 10-year period
AU - Kazantzi, Maria
AU - Prapa, Marilena
AU - Christakou, Eleni
AU - Paraschou,
AU - Dimitra
AU - Kalabalikis, Panagiotis
AU - Barbaressou, Charikleia and
AU - Papaevangelou, Vassiliki
JO - Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
PY - 2022
VL - 58
TODO - 2
SP - 312-317
PB - Wiley
SN - 1034-4810, 1440-1754
TODO - 10.1111/jpc.15711
TODO - paediatric intensive care; vaccination; vaccine preventable disease
TODO - Aim Childhood immunisation is an important preventive measure. However,
care givers may delay routine immunisations or seek exemptions from
state vaccine mandates. Vaccine refusal creates barriers on vaccine
coverage and leads to morbidity and mortality. Methods Our study reviews
morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) in a
large paediatric intensive care unit in Greece over a 10-year period.
Results During the study period, 73 cases of VPDs were recorded,
corresponding to 3.5% of total paediatric intensive care unit
admissions. Influenza was the most prevalent VPD, followed by
pneumococcal disease, measles, pertussis and meningococcal disease. Most
patients (83.3%) were unvaccinated for the admission’s VPD. Outcome was
unfavourable for 31.9% of the patients (17 children died, 6 developed
chronic impairment). Conclusion Absent or incomplete vaccination may
result in serious morbidity and mortality from preventable diseases.
Strengthening vaccination strategies are needed to improve individual
protection as well as herd immunity.
ER -