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Arch Dis Child 1999;81:422-425 ( November )

Opportunistic immunisation in hospital

S P Conway

Seacroft Hospital, York Road, Leeds LS14 6UH, UK

Correspondence to: Dr Conway

Accepted 21 July 1999

AIM---To assess the potential for administering catch up and scheduled immunisations during hospital admission.
METHODS---Immunisation status according to the child's principal carer was checked against official records for 1000 consecutively admitted preschool age children. Junior doctors were instructed to offer appropriate vaccination before discharge, and consultants were asked to reinforce this proactive policy on ward rounds.
RESULTS---Excluding those children who were not fully immunised against pertussis through parental choice, 142 children (14.2%) had missed an age appropriate immunisation and 41 were due a scheduled immunisation. None had a valid contraindication. Only 43 children were offered vaccination on the ward but uptake was 65% in this group.
CONCLUSIONS---Admission to hospital provides opportunities for catch up and routine immunisations and can contribute to the health care of an often disadvantaged group of children. These opportunities are frequently missed. Junior doctors must be encouraged to see opportunistic immunisation as an important part of their routine work.


Key messages

  • Immunisation status can be obtained without disturbing ward routine
  • Hospital admission is a real opportunity for catch up immunisation
  • The majority of these immunisation opportunities are missed
  • Age appropriate immunisation of inpatients should become routine procedure




Keywords: immunisation; opportunistic; preschool age children

© 1999 by Archives of Disease in Childhood


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