Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Commentary
  • Published:

Optimizing Long-Term Care by Administration of Influenza Vaccine to Parents of NICU Patients

Journal of Perinatology volume 24, pages 273–274 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team has traditionally invested itself in maintaining the health of its patients upon discharge from high-acuity care. Historically, this has included the administration of vaccinations to the patients and more recently, Palivizumab — a monoclonal antibody directed against respiratory synctial virus (RSV). With increasing awareness of the ill-effects associated with influenza virus and recommendations those in close contact with high-risk infants receive the vaccine, the NICU may be an ideal arena to capture parents of high-risk infants for vaccination. This would potentially decrease exposure of the neoatal patient group to influenza virus and may decrease morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. NICUs should work in concert with their associated Departments of Obstetrics to immunize pregnant mothers when appropriate, educate parents regarding influenza and its potential effects in infants and offer influenza vaccine in-season to parents as part of comprehensive care.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Glezen WP, Couch RB . Interpandemic influenza in the Houston Area, 1974–1976. N Engl J Med 1978;298:587–592.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Neuzil KM, Zhu Y, Griffin MR, et al. Burden of interpandemic influenza in children younger than 5 years: a 25-year prospective study. J Infect Dis 2002;185:147–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Glezen WP . Serious morbidity and mortality associated with influenza epidemics. Epidemiol Rev 1982;4:25–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Glezen WP, Greenberg S, Atmar R, et al. Impact of respiratory virus infections on persons with chronic underlying conditions. JAMA 2000;283(4):499–505.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Izurieta H, Thompson W, Kramarz P, et al. Influenza and the rates of hospitalization for respiratory disease among infants and young children. N Engl J Med 2000;342:232–239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ferson MJ, Morton JR, Robertson PW . Impact of influenza on morbidity in children with cystic fibrosis. J Paediatr Child Health 1991;27:308–311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Neuzil KM, Wright PF, Mitchel Jr EF, et al. The burden of influenza illness in children with asthma and other chronic medical conditions. J Pediatr 2000;137:856–864.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rennels M, Mesissner C, et al. Reduction of the influenza burdern in children. technical Report 2002. Pediatrics 2002;110(6) URL: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/110/6/e80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bernstein DI, Zahradnik JM, De Angelis CJ, et al. Clinical reactions and serologic responses after vaccination with while-virus or split-virus influenza vaccines in children aged 6 to 36 months. Pediatrics 1982;69:404–408.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cohen G, Nettleman M . Economic impact of influenza vaccination in preschool children. Pediatrics 2000;106:973–976.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Committee on Infectious Disease Policy Statement. Reduction of the influenza burden in children. Pediatrics 2002;110(6):1246–1252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Honkanen PO, Keistinen T, Kivela SL . Factors associated with influenza vaccination coverage among the elderly: role of health care personnel. Public Health 1996;110:163–168.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Longini Jr IM, Koopman JS, Monto AS, et al. Estimating household and community transmission parameters for influenza. Am J Epidemiol 1982;115:736–751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Fox JP, Hall CE, Cooney MK, et al. Influenza virus infections in Seattle families, 1975–1979. Study design, methods and the occurrence of infection by time and age. Am J Epidemiol 1982;116:212–227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Poehling K, Speroff T, Dittus R, et al. Predictors of influenza virus vaccination status in hospitalized children. Pediatrics 2001;108(6) URL: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/108/6/e99.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kramarz P, DeStefano F, Gargiullo PM, et al. Influenza vaccination in children with asthma in health maintenance organizations. Vaccine Safety Datalink Team. Vaccine 2000;18:2288–2294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, School of Medicine, New York University, 20 Waterside Plaza, Suite 30K, New York, 10010, NY, USA

    Shetal Shah MD & Martha Caprio MD

Authors
  1. Shetal Shah MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martha Caprio MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shah, S., Caprio, M. Optimizing Long-Term Care by Administration of Influenza Vaccine to Parents of NICU Patients. J Perinatol 24, 273–274 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211095

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211095

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links