Immunizations in Pediatric Patients Hospitalized at the Valera University Hospital “Dr. Pedro Emilio Carrillo
Ray David Molina Linares, Scarlet Saret Mongelli Hernández, Luis Ramón Piñerua Vivas, María Fernanda Romero, Luis Manuel Perdomo Terán, Diego Javier Rosales González, Rafael José Santiago Peña, Andreina Josefa La Corte.
Introduction: Immunizations are one of the most effective public health strategies, even in hospitalized patients, because this setting presents a potential environment for increasing vaccination opportunities. Missed Opportunities for Vaccination (MOV) are quickly identified as factors contributing to poor immunization performance, especially in the hospital environment.
Objective: To evaluate the immunization profile of pediatric patients hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics at the University Hospital of Valera “Dr. Pedro Emilio Carrillo,” from February to May 2023.
Methods: Observational, descriptive study conducted through surveys of mothers and guardians of patients aged 1 month to 14 years and 11 months.
Results: Patients were separated by age group, and their vaccination status was assessed according to the schedule provided by the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and the recommendations of the Venezuelan Society of Childcare and Pediatrics (SVPP). The reasons for missing immunizations and family socioeconomic status were also evaluated, demonstrating that even hospitalized patients with preventable risk factors still experienced missed opportunities for immunization.
Conclusion: A strong correlation continues to exist between missed opportunities for immunization and socioeconomic status, as well as a lack of awareness regarding the importance of vaccination. Therefore, it is a priority to expand research that studies the causes, factors, and repercussions of children’s incomplete vaccination schedules on the public health of the rest of the population.
