In Switzerland, there are no special vaccination recommendations for premature and low‐birthweight infants with respect to a particular target vaccination age. Incomplete and delayed vaccination bears the inherent risk of preventable infections. Therefore, the vaccination rate and age of 60 premature infants in north‐western Switzerland born in 1994/95 were investigated in a retrospective case‐control study. For this group of patients these are the first data ever available for this region. At the age of 4–5 y, the vaccination rates for polio and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP acellular) as well as Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) were similar in both preterm and full‐term infants. In both groups, the fourth dose of vaccine against DTP, Hib and polio was far less frequently administered than the first three. The vaccination age in preterm infants for most vaccinations was significantly higher than in age‐matched full‐term controls. This was particularly obvious for the first dose of vaccine against polio and DTP. In preterm infants, the median age (5th; 95th percentile) at the date of the first polio vaccination was 131 (89; 270) d and 82 (60; 182) in full‐term controls (p < 0.00001). The age difference was even larger for the first DTP vaccination (62 d, p < 0.00001). The main reasons for delayed vaccination may include insufficient information given to parents as well as prolonged hospitalization. Conclusion: Vaccination of preterm infants should be discussed in every discharge communication, with emphasis on vaccine administration at the appropriate chronological age.

No abstract

No abstract