Survey of Paediatricians‚ Knowledge and Practices About Influenza Vaccines

What is it about?

We aimed to assess paediatricians‘ awareness of Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) recommendations in relation to influenza vaccination of high risk children in the Trent region of England. A questionnaire was posted out to 100 consultant paediatricians. A total of 68 questionnaires were returned and analysed. 41% and 49% of the respondents were working in tertiary and district hospitals respectively. 89% of them claimed to be aware of the CMO's newsletters which listed the high-risk groups of children requiring influenza vaccines.

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Why is it important?

The highest rates of vaccine recommendation were for children with chronic lung disease (70.5%), congenital heart disease (68%), cystic fibrosis (66%), chronic heart failure (63%), asthmatics requiring regular steroids (62%), neuromuscular diseases (59%), severe splenic dysfunction (59%), children aged below 5 years with previous invasive pneumococcal disease (56%), diabetes mellitus (53%) and chronic renal failure (48.5%). The lowest rates of vaccine recommendations included nephrotic syndrome (43%), post renal transplant (41%), chronic liver disease (35%), cirrhosis (26%), HIV/AIDS (37%), children on chemotherapy/steroids (38%), previously admitted for asthma (22%) or with a lower respiratory tract disease (9%).

Perspectives