Key role of pediatricians and disease for influenza vaccination in children with high-risk chronic diseases.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for children with chronic diseases. Studies on influenza vaccines, following controversies related to the 2009 H1N1 influenza, are scarce in Europe. Our aim was to evaluate the influenza vaccination coverage in such children in a French tertiary hospital. Secondary objectives were the evaluation of the influenza vaccination coverage trend and the identification of factors influencing the vaccination status. A prospective and descriptive study by questionnaire was performed at the end of 2017 in 402 French hospital outpatients with various underlying chronic diseases eligible to the influenza vaccination. The 2016–2017 vaccination coverage was 46.5%. Figures of 75% or greater were only found in patients with cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. CART analysis identified vaccination in the previous year, medical recommendation for vaccination, and maternal influenza vaccination as a child's decisive factors for being vaccinated. Conclusion: Influenza vaccination coverage remains insufficient in children receiving hospital follow-up for chronic diseases. Its implementation clearly depends on pediatricians' recommendation to vaccinate and on the type of chronic disease. What is Known: • Despite health policy recommendations, the rate of annual influenza vaccination in children with chronic diseases is low What is New: • Influenza vaccination coverage depends on the type of chronic disease and on the pediatricians' counseling to vaccine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]