Vaccination rates in cochlear implant patients: a review of paediatric recipients

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether children with cochlear implants received the recommended vaccinations according to New Zealand national immunisation guidelines and to report the incidence of meningitis in this population after intervention.

Method: A retrospective review of the vaccination coverage of paediatric patients receiving cochlear implants between 2005 and 2019 was performed.

Results: Data were collected on 203 children. Evidence of immunisation against Haemophilus influenza B was documented in 94.1 per cent of this cohort and 21.2 per cent received the seasonal influenza vaccine. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was fully administered in 81.8 per cent of children; however, only 16.9 per cent of eligible children had received the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. There was marked improvement in compliance to the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine once it became fully funded for cochlear implant patients.

Conclusion: Despite established guidelines, the paediatric vaccination rates were less than expected. Work is in progress to address this.

Keywords: Cochlear Implants; Immunization.