Influenza vaccine coverage in paediatric population from central Israel.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to estimate the influenza vaccine coverage among children attending paediatric ER.


METHODS
The parents of patients attending paediatric ER during the winter of 2003-2004 were inquired about their children's influenza vaccination status, whether the vaccine was recommended by the primary paediatrician recommendation, the medical history, and about several epidemiological details.


RESULTS
Total of 557 questionnaires were completed. Mean age was 5.8 years. Only 23 of the 557 patients were vaccinated (4.1% coverage). Vaccine coverage in the 107 children from high risk groups was 6.5% and vaccination rate in the 144 infants aged 6-24 months was 2.7%. Influenza vaccine was recommended by the primary paediatricians in 59 cases (10.6%). Vaccine was recommended to 22.4% of patients from high risk groups, to 7.6% of infants aged 6-24 months of age and to 7.8% of the other children.


CONCLUSIONS
Influenza vaccine coverage among Israeli children is low, including patients from high-risk groups, and awareness of the primary paediatricians seems to be unsatisfactory.
Stein
M
M
The Pediatric Infectious Diseases unit, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.
Yossepowitch
O
O
Somekh
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007557:Israel; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines