Background: Due to their susceptibility to infection, patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) require immunization and penicillin prophylaxis. This study aimed to assess the adherence of the Jazan region’s SCD children to additional vaccinations. Materials and Methods: The data of SCD patients were meticulously collected through face-to-face interviews with patients or parents. A semi-structured questionnaire, carefully designed in Arabic, was used to ensure comprehensive data collection. Results: Of the 158 included participants, 38% were between 6 and 10 years old, with 73.4% coming from Jazan town. 53.2% were diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at the age of 1–5 years, and the most frequent cause of admission was vaso-occlusive crises, followed by infection. Oral prophylactic penicillin was commenced in 67.7% of the participants around the age of 1 year, and 93.7% received regularly scheduled vaccinations, whereas only 25.9% received additional vaccinations. The most frequently received vaccine was the influenza vaccine (21.5%) compared with 12% who received the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine. The patients’ age and their mothers’ education have a significant impact on taking additional vaccinations. Conclusion: This study’s findings underscore the low adherence of SCD children to the recommended additional vaccinations. This study highlights the urgent need for quality improvement initiatives to improve vaccination adherence.
Eltyeb et al. (Tue,) studied this question.