Pediatric practice experiences with second dose influenza vaccination: An AAP Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) Study.

OBJECTIVES: Explore pediatric staff experiences administering the second influenza vaccine dose. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative focus groups/interviews. METHODS: As part of the National Institutes of Health-funded Flu2Text randomized control trial of text message reminders for second influenza vaccine dose, we conducted seven focus groups and four individual interviews (n = 39 participants total) with clinicians and staff from participating practices from the American Academy of Pediatrics' Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) Network. Of 37 participating practices, 10 were selected through stratified sampling of practices with highest (n = 5) and lowest (n = 5) randomized controlled trial effect sizes. A semi-structured discussion guide included questions that addressed parental, practice, and health system barriers/facilitators to second influenza vaccine dose administration. Using the Systems Model of Clinical Preventive Care as a conceptual framework, two investigators independently coded transcripts (Κ = 0.86, high agreement) with NVivo 12 Plus. Coding inconsistencies were resolved by consensus. RESULTS: Clinicians/staff reported that administering the second influenza vaccine dose in a season was more complex than other childhood vaccines. They highlighted parental uncertainty about the need for the second dose and the difficulty and inconvenience of bringing children back to the office as important barriers. Caregiver-staff relationships were perceived as helpful in getting children vaccinated with their second dose and vaccine reminders were seen as important cues-to-action. CONCLUSIONS: Ensuring receipt of two doses of the influenza vaccine in a given season presents unique challenges. Themes identified provide a framework for understanding opportunities to bolster second dose receipt, including explaining why two doses are needed, offering flexible hours for vaccination, and sending vaccine reminders.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood vaccine uptake with administrative data.

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood vaccination coverage in New Zealand using population-wide administrative data. For each immunisation event from ages 6 weeks to 4 years, we compare vaccine uptake of children who became eligible for immunisation during the pandemic to earlier-born cohorts whose immunisations were due before the pandemic. We find that the initial phase of the pandemic had, on average, small or nil effects on timely immunisation at the four infancy events, but a large effect at the 4-year event of -15 percentage points. Nine months after eligibility, catch-up among the pandemic-affected cohorts was largely achieved for the infancy immunisations, but 4-year coverage remained 6 percentage points below pre-pandemic levels. Vaccine uptake at 4 years initially dropped most among children of European ethnicity and of non-beneficiary parents but catch-up quickly surpassed their Maori, Pacific, and beneficiary counterparts for whom sizeable gaps in coverage below pre-pandemic levels remained at the end of our observation period. The pandemic thus widened pre-existing inequalities in immunisation coverage.

Sustained chronic inflammation and altered childhood vaccine responses in children exposed to Zika virus.

BACKGROUND: Congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection leads to severe newborn abnormalities, but its long-term impact on childhood immunity is not well understood. This study aims to investigate the serum proteomics in children exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy to understand potential immunological consequences during early childhood. METHODS: The study included ZIKV-exposed infants (ZEI) at birth (n = 42) and children exposed to ZIKV (ZEC) at two years of age (n = 20) exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy, as well as healthy controls. Serum proteomic analysis was performed on these groups to assess inflammation and immune profiles. Additionally, antibody titres against two common childhood vaccines, DTaP and MMR, were measured in healthy controls (n = 50) and ZEC (n = 92) to evaluate vaccine-induced immunity. FINDINGS: Results showed elevated inflammation in ZEI with birth abnormalities. Among ZEC, despite most having normal clinical outcomes at two years, their serum proteomics indicated a bias towards Th1-mediated immune responses. Notably, ZEC displayed reduced anti-Diphtheria toxin and anti-Clostridium tetani IgG levels against DTaP and MMR vaccines. They also exhibited lower antibody titres particularly against Th2-biased DTaP vaccines, but not Th1-biased MMR vaccines. INTERPRETATION: In conclusion, the study highlights the long-term immunological consequences of congenital ZIKV exposure. Heightened inflammation was observed in ZEI with abnormalities at birth, while ZEC maintained a chronic Th1-biased immune profile. The impaired response to Th2-biased vaccines raises concerns about lasting effects of ZIKV exposure on immune responses. Consequently, there is a need for continued longitudinal clinical monitoring to identify potential immune-related complications arising from prenatal exposure to ZIKV. FUNDING: This work was partially funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).

Psychometric properties and reliability of the Brazilian version of Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccine (PACV-BR) / Propriedades psicométricas e confiabilidade da versão brasileira do Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccine (PACV-BR)

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties and reliability of the Brazilian version of the tool Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccine (PACV-BR). Methods: The sample included 110 parents of children up to two years old served by Family Health Basic Units. The tool's internal consistency and factor validity were respectively assessed by Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The test-retest reliability was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The EFA results indicated a proper structural adequacy of the PACV-BR (15 items and two factors). The reliability generated Cronbach's alpha values between 0.715 and 0.854 for the items, of 0.918 for the tool as a whole, of 0.877 for factor 1 and of 0.825 for factor 2, in addition to an ICC of 0.984. Conclusions: The PACV-BR showed evidence of construct validity and reliability.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as propriedades psicométricas e a confiabilidade da versão brasileira do instrumento Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccine (PACV-BR). Métodos: A amostra incluiu 110 pais de crianças de até dois anos atendidas em Unidades Básicas de Saúde da Família. A consistência interna e a validade fatorial do instrumento foram avaliadas, respectivamente, pelo alfa de Cronbach e pela análise fatorial exploratória (EFA). A confiabilidade teste-reteste foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC). Resultados: Os resultados da AFE indicaram adequação estrutural do PACV-BR (15 itens e dois fatores). A confiabilidade indicou valores de alfa de Cronbach entre 0,715 e 0,854 para os itens, de 0,918 para o instrumento como um todo, de 0,877 para o fator 1 e de 0,825 para o fator 2, além de ICC de 0,984. Conclusões: O PACV-BR apresentou evidências de validade de construto e confiabilidade.