Vaccination card status of children and adolescents admitted to the wards of a paediatric university hospital

Introduction: Brazil provides all vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization and was a pioneer in incorporating various vaccines; however, the high vaccination coverage rate has dropped alarmingly. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative study was conducted. The caregivers of children and adolescents hospitalized in the wards of a paediatric university hospital were interviewed to identify their vaccination card status in relation to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. Medical students administered questionnaires and checked vaccination cards. Direct questions characterized the patient profile and vaccination status. In cases of vaccine(s) delay, an open question was asked to identify the reason(s). Results: A total of 55 caregivers were interviewed, mostly mothers (81.8%). Among the patients, the predominant characteristics were boys (58.2%), infants (45.5%), hospitalization of less than 1 week (47.3%), and respiratory illnesses as the reason for admission (40.0%). Other health problems were reported in 58.1% of the patients. According to the caregivers perception, 49.1% had delayed vaccination shots. However, 74.5% had an overdue vaccination card, with the COVID-19 vaccine being the most common (61%). The most frequently cited reasons were prolonged or repeated hospitalizations (29.2%). All patients who were hospitalized for 1 month or more had their vaccine shots overdue. Conclusion: A significant percentage of hospitalized patients presented with vaccination delays, and the caregivers perception was much lower than what was found through the verification of the cards. Vaccination checks and updates need to be conducted during hospitalization (for long-term stays) or at discharge (for short-term stays).