Documenting immunization of children in a cochlear implant program.
OBJECTIVE
Assess the effectiveness of an immunization verification protocol (IVP) to achieve and document pneumococcal vaccination of patients with cochlear implants.


METHODS
Chart review.


METHODS
Academic tertiary medical center.


METHODS
Pediatric patients with cochlear implants (n = 76).


METHODS
1) Status of pneumococcal immunization for cochlear implant patients, before and after initiation of the IVP; 2) final number of existing cochlear implant patients successfully immunized after institution of the IVP; and 3) effectiveness of communication between our office and patient/parent or pediatrician.


RESULTS
Subjects were grouped according to whether their cochlear implantation was performed before (Group 1, n = 63) or after (Group 2, n = 18) initiation of the IVP in September 2010. In the 28 months between IVP initiation and January 2013, the number of fully immunized age-eligible patients increased in Group 1 from 2% (n = 1) to 63% (n = 40). Of 18 subjects in Group 2, 56% (n = 10) were fully vaccinated at the time of surgery, and 94% were fully vaccinated at the conclusion of the study (n = 17). Of all 81 children, complete immunization was documented in 70% (n = 57), incomplete documentation was noted in 16% (n = 13); and 14% (n = 11) were lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
It is a challenge to achieve and document immunizations recommended for cochlear implantation, even in a relatively small cochlear implant program. In our practice, those patients who were required to document immunizations before surgery had the highest rates of compliance. Access to a vaccination registry and the ability to administer vaccines in the otolaryngology office also improved compliance.
*Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, †Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A.
Peter G
PG
Volsky
Daniel A
DA
Ballard
Stephanie
S
Moody-Antonio
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D014611:Vaccination
D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines