[Vaccination of chronically ill children]

Abstract

Children with chronic diseases (hematologic, metabolic and renal diseases, children with chronic heart and lung disease, children with cerebral defects and immunodeficient patients) have an increased risk to suffer from infectious diseases and should be immunized with priority. In addition to routine immunization, these high-risk children may benefit from influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis A vaccination. In this paper, general recommendations for vaccination in children with chronic diseases are being discussed, with emphasis on certain disease entities. Furthermore, the importance and indications for influenza and pneumococcal vaccine are being presented.