title: Uptake of newly introduced universal BCG vaccination in newborns.
abstract: Universal neonatal BCG vaccination was discontinued in Cork in 1972. Following an outbreak of TB in 2 creches in the HSE South, a universal BCG vaccination program was re-introduced in October 2008. The aim of this study was to determine the vaccination process (in-hospital and community) and the in-hospital uptake of the vaccine. Following informed parental consent, babies of birth weight > 2.5 Kg were eligible for in-hospital vaccination if they were not: febrile, jaundiced on phototherapy, on antibiotics and if not born to HIV- positive mothers. Parents of babies not vaccinated in-hospital were asked to book an appointment in either of the 2 Cork community clinics. The immunisation nurse collected data on BCG vaccination, prospectively. This study examined vaccination uptakes in-hospital and community over a 6 month period (October 2008 to March 2009). There were 4018 deliveries during the study period. In-hospital consent was declined in only 16 babies (<1%) while the in-hospital vaccination uptake was 80% of total liv births. Although 635 newborns were admitted to the NICU, only 46 (8%) were vaccinated while in the NICU. At least 48% of planned community vaccination has been achieved to date. In conclusion, in-hospital consent was almost universal and vaccination uptake was satisfactory. NICU exclusion criteria accounted for a significant proportion of non-vaccination in-hospital. These criteria need to be readdressed considering that all premature babies are given other routine newborn vaccines at 2 months of age, regardless of weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Braima
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rigney
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine