title: Compliance with immunization against H1N1 influenza virus among children with cancer.
abstract: In this report, we describe the experience with immunization against pandemic influenza A H1N1 in children with cancer treated at a pediatric oncology department during the pandemic season (2009). According to the guidelines, vaccination of all children with cancer receiving chemotherapy as well as those who had completed treatment was scheduled. Among the 140 children who were eligible for immunization, 122 were immunized, achieving a compliance rate of 87% despite negative publicity and low vaccine uptake in the general population. The vaccine was tolerated and none of the vaccinated children developed influenza. It is concluded that high immunization rates can be achieved among pediatric oncology patients.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Department, P. & A. Kyriakou Children's Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. doganisd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doganis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsolia
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dana
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouhoutsou
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourtsidis
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varvoutsi
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Servitzoglou
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kosmidis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms; D058873:Pandemics; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines