Immunization with Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) conjugate vaccine following discharge from hospital.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to ascertain Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccination status following discharge from hospital and to determine the time taken to vaccinate with Hib conjugate vaccine following hospital discharge of unvaccinated children.


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional survey involving children aged 3-59 months admitted to a hospital with laboratory confirmed invasive H. influenzae disease.


RESULTS
Of 51 eligible children, 42 (82%) had not received Hib conjugate vaccine prior to admission. No children were immunized prior to discharge. Vaccination following discharge took an average of 110 days (range 3-441 days). More than one quarter (28%) remained unvaccinated following discharge. If these children had been immunized, immunization coverage among this group of children would have increased significantly from 73% to 98% (p = 0.0017).


CONCLUSIONS
In the immediate post-Hib conjugate vaccine period, delayed immunization after discharge was identified. This reduces the individual and community benefits of immunization.
Olowokure
B
B
Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 2nd Floor Lincoln House, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham B9 5SS, UK. bolowokure@cdscwmid.demon.co.uk
Spencer
N J
NJ
Hawker
J I
JI
Blair
I
I
D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology*; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage
D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate