Attitudes of pediatricians working in the field of Social Pediatrics towards the immunization in high-risk groups including immunocompromised conditions and chronic diseases.


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DİNLEYİCİ M., KESKİNDEMİRCİ G., GÜR E., VELİPAŞAOĞLU S., ŞİMŞEK ORHON F., KOÇ F., ...More

2nd International Eurasian Congress of Social Pediatrics, Turkey, 26 - 29 November 2020

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • Country: Turkey
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Pediatric risk groups, such as children with chronic diseases like hematological and oncological

malignancies, congenital or acquired immunocompromised conditions, may not be adequately

or routinely vaccinated despite being more susceptible to complications from vaccine preventable diseases.

Recommendations for immunization of these high-risk group children can be inconsistent. This

may be due to lack of immunization recommendations, lack of awareness, or incomplete adherence to

existing guidelines. This cross-sectional study assessed attitudes regarding immunization in high-risk

groups of children with underlying conditions, among pediatricians working in the field of social pediatrics.

Method: This study used a cross-sectional electronic survey with 75 pediatricians working in the field

of Social Pediatrics in Turkey between October and December, 2020. A web-based questionnaire which

consisted questions about the attitudes of immunization of children with cancer, bone marrow or solid

organ transplantation, asplenia/splenectomy, congenital or acquired immune deficiency, hemoglobinopathy,

chronic cardiac or respiratory disease, inherited metabolic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease,

and patients treated with biological agents, was designed. Statistical analysis has been performed

with SPSS for Windows 7.0 package program.

Results: Recommendations and routine practices for immunization varies between centers. Majority

of the participants use current recommendations and guidelines. Common problems are the different

approach pediatric disciplines about immunization in high-risk children (58.5%), private vaccines paid

by the parents (94.4%), inappropriate contraindications for vaccine use/delay by the department that

follows up the patient(47.1%), the lack of vaccines in the country (62.7%), the fact that the different disciplines

have different vaccination practices (44.9%), and the department that follows up the child does

not provide sufficient explanatory information about the disease and immunization (57.7%). There are

differences for routine practices for immunization between the participants, mainly; serological tests

before immunization in children with cancer, vaccine schedule and time interval after chemotherapy,

immunization protocol for children receiving blood and blood products, immunization of children with

graft-versus host disease, immunization of children with congenital immune deficiencies, immunization schedules for vaccines which are not a part of national immunization program, administration of

live vaccines after solid organ transplantation, immunization of previously hepatitis B immunized children

who have Anti-HBs level as

Conclusion: Recommendations for immunization in high-risk children or children with underlying conditions

may vary across in our country. Interventions as harmonization of the routine practices with a

national guideline aimed at the enhancement of attitudes and awareness of pediatricians who provide

immunization of children with high-risk groups or underlying conditions.

Keywords: Children, Immunization,Immunocompromised conditions, Chronic diseases,Social Pediatrics