Catamnestic studies of the vaccination status of 7,176 children in Bochum

Abstract

7176 children, who were hospitalized between 1978 and 1983 in the Children's Hospital of the University of Bochum were analysed by the use of case histories and vaccination certificates for their status of vaccination. An age related complete vaccination status was found only in 46.7% for diphtheria, in 55.3% for tetanus and in 48.1% for poliomyelitis. A quarter of all children had not received any vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus or poliomyelitis. Considerable gaps for at least one of these three vaccinations were found in half of all children. It was striking that especially the booster vaccinations for diphtheria in the sixth and seventh year and for tetanus and poliomyelitis in the tenth or eleventh year were frequently missed. While vaccinations for measles and mumps were increasing in younger children a general decrease for pertussis vaccination was noted. Vaccination quotes and the socio-economic situation of the families were statistically significantly correlated. Highest rats were found in children from university graduates with a decreasing tendency towards a lower socio-economic level. The situation for foreign worker families was significantly worse than for German children. However especially for these children standard vaccinations are very important as visits in there home countries produce a high incidence of exposure to infections. The general aim of the study was to find out those groups where special informations and propagations for vaccination are necessary.