García-Pérez R, Vaquera-Aparicio DN, Barrientos MVA, Castillo-Bejarano JI, Jiménez-Antolínez V, González LÓ, Cid-Ramírez MF, Fuentes-Flores V, Mascareñas-de SAH

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 109-114
PDF size: 313.71 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) lose the immunity acquired from vaccines received prior to the transplant, increasing their risk of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD). Consequently, they require a complete post-transplant immunization schedule. Objective: to describe vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccination coverage rates, and barriers to vaccination in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT. Material and methods: all patients under 16 years of age who underwent HSCT over a 4-year period (October 2019 to September 2023) were included. VPD episodes were analyzed, and a telephone questionnaire was administered to assess vaccination coverage rates and barriers to vaccination in this population. Results: a total of 73 patients were included, of whom 11 (15%) developed a VPD, with one associated death. Vaccination coverage rates and barriers to vaccination were analyzed in 30 patients. At 36 months post-HSCT, complete vaccination schedules were reported for pneumococcus in 30%, influenza in 33.3%, hexavalent vaccine in 36.7%, SARS-CoV-2 in 3.3%, MMR in 20%, varicella in 3.3%, hepatitis A in 23.3%, and HPV in 41.2%. Barriers to vaccination identified included graft-versus-host disease in 36.7%; unavailability of vaccines at health centers in 30%; refusal of healthcare personnel to administer vaccines in 26.7%; lack of economic resources in 20%; and disease relapse in 13.3%. Conclusions: VPDs represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Vaccination coverage rates were suboptimal across all vaccines evaluated. The main reasons for delayed vaccination were complications related to HSCT, socioeconomic limitations, and restricted access to vaccines.

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