Practices of Turkish pediatricians working in the field of social pediatrics on the use of non-routine vaccines in healthy children

2nd International Eurasian Congress of Social Pediatrics, Türkiye, 26 - 29 Kasım 2020

Objective: Counseling on routine and non-routine vaccines is an integral part of pediatrics practice. The

aim of this study was to gather information on recommendations made by social pediatricians in Turkey

for immunization of healthy children with non-routine vaccines.

Method: All pediatricians working in the field of social pediatrics in Turkey (n:75) were invited to participate

in the study. Questionnaire seeking information about the counseling they provide for healthy

children on non-routine vaccines (i. rotavirus, ii. human papilloma virus, iii. Tdap, iv. meningococcal serogroup

A,C,W,Y conjugate vaccines, v. meningococcal serogroup B vaccine-Bexsero and vi. seasonal

influenza vaccines) was sent by e-mail.

Results: Out of 75 pediatricians 68 (90.7%) responded to the e-mail. Of the 68 participants 55 (%80,9)

were providing information on non-routine vaccines to the parents of healthy children. All 55 providers

(100%) were informing the parents about rotavirus vaccines, meningococcal serogroup A,C,W,Y conjugate

vaccines and meningococcal serogroup B vaccine. HPV vaccines were recommended by 42 (76.4%)

and Tdap vaccine by 32 (58.2%) of the 55 providers.

Participants were most commonly initiating rotavirus vaccines at 2 months and meningococcal vaccines

between 6 and 12 months of age. Tdap vaccine was preferred as an alternative to the booster dose

of Td vaccine at 13 years of age. No age preference was observed for HPV vaccines. Only 19 (%34.5) were

providing immunization services for adolescents and 5 (%9.1) for pregnant people.

For the question on seasonal influenza vaccines was misunderstood as seeking information on immunization

of children with special health conditions, it was omitted from final evaluation.

Conclusion: Different non-routine vaccines are preferred with different schedules by the pediatricians

working in the field of social pediatrics in Turkey. More uniform schedules and more emphasis on adolescent

immunization may help to provide better non-routine vaccination services to children.