title: Adapting immunisation schedules for children undergoing chemotherapy.
abstract: Children undergoing chemotherapy for cancer have special vaccination needs after completion of the treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptation of post-chemotherapy vaccination schedules.
  
  
  
  An observational study was performed on a retrospective cohort that included all children aged from 0 to 14 years, who completed chemotherapy in a tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2015. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Immunisation was administered in accordance with the guidelines of the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics. Primary Care immunisation and clinical records of the Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department were reviewed.
  
  
  
  Of the 99 children who had received chemotherapy, 51 (70.6% males) were included in the study. As regards the type of tumour, 54.9% had a solid organ tumour, and 45.1% had a haematological tumour. Post-chemotherapy immunisation was administered to 70.6%. The most common vaccines received were: diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or diphtheria-tetanus (54.9%), meningococcus C (41.2%), and seasonal influenza (39.2%). The rate of adaptation of the immunisation schedule after chemotherapy was 9.8%. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against 7v or 13v was administered to 21.6% of study subjects. However, only 17.6% received polysaccharide 23v. None received vaccination against hepatitis A. No statistically significant differences were observed between adherence to immunisation schedules and type of tumour (P=.066), gender (P=.304), or age (P=.342).
  
  
  
  Post-chemotherapy immunisation of children with cancer is poor. The participation of health professionals in training programs and referral of paediatric cancer patients to Vaccine Units could improve the rate of schedule adaptation and proper immunisation of this population.
authors: Unidad de Vacunas, Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España. Electronic address: mariafdezprada@gmail.com.
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Fernández-Prada
authors: Área de Gestión Clínica de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Rodríguez-Martínez
authors: Área de Gestión Clínica de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
authors: Rebeca
authors: R
authors: García-García
authors: Área de Gestión Clínica de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
authors: María Dolores
authors: MD
authors: García-Corte
authors: Unidad de Vacunas, Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Martínez-Ortega
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014612:Vaccines
keywords: Ccancer; Chemotherapy; Childhood cancer; Cáncer; Cáncer infantil; Enfermedades inmunoprevenibles; Posquimioterapia; Post-chemotherapy; Prevención; Prevention; Quimioterapia; Vaccination; Vaccine; Vaccine-preventable diseases; Vacuna; Vacunación