Study of Greek children and youths with cystic fibrosis identifies immunisation gaps and delays.

AIM: Data about immunisation rates in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are scarce. We estimated the rates and timeliness of immunisations in CF patients aged 0.55-22 years. METHODS: We studied 122 subjects at a hospital in Greece in 2014. A standard questionnaire was used to collect data and parents' opinions about immunisations. RESULTS: The complete immunisation rates were 92.6% for diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-inactivated poliomyelitis-Haemophilus influenzae (DTaP-IPV-Hib), 96.7% for hepatitis A, 97.4% for hepatitis B, 97.4% for measles-mumps-rubella, 85.1% for the varicella zoster virus, 85.1% for the meningococcus C conjugate, 84.3% for the pneumococcus conjugate and 58.9% for the bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine. Immunisation rates in youths were 64.4% for DTaP-IPV, 26.8% for the tetravalent meningococcus conjugate vaccine and 54.1% for the human papilloma virus vaccine. In addition, 30.1% received the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and 45.6% received annual influenza vaccines. Complete, up-to-date immunisation rates fell from 61.4% at 12 months of age to 14.5% at six and 12 years. All vaccines experienced delays. Most parents believed vaccines were necessary to protect their child's health. CONCLUSION: Our study of children with CF found immunisation gaps with no catch-up immunisations and these need to be administered at follow-up visits.