Patients with structural or functional hypo-/a-splenia are 10- to 50-fold more likely than the general population to acquire serious infectious illnesses. As a result, it is advised to follow a certain immunization plan, which includes getting influenza vaccine. The Bari Policlinico General Hospital adopted a strategy to guarantee that vaccinations are actively provided to all splenectomized patients while they are hospitalized. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of this active recall procedure for conducting influenza vaccine in the years following splenectomy among patients who are still enrolled in a particular immunization program administered by the hospital’s Hygiene department. From May 2014 to October 2016, 96 patients participated in the Hygiene department’s immunization program. In November 2017, 46/96 of patients received a particular phone invitation to obtain the yearly influenza vaccine, whereas 50/96 did not. At the end of the 2017 influenza season, 73/96 of patients reported receiving the influenza vaccination; no variations in the level of vaccine coverage were detected across the groups.
Getting influenza immunization during the 2017 season is related to older age, more recent splenectomy, hemo-lymphopathy, and receiving prior years’ doses of influenza vaccine. These findings show that excellent communication during vaccine counseling leads to strong adherence to the immunization regimen even after several years. Indeed, vaccination should provide a chance not just for vaccine administration but also for patient care.
Reference: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645515.2019.1599678
