Vaccination coverage and serological follow-up in children with rheumatologic diseases: a retrospective single-centre study
Authors' conclusion
Vaccination coverage in children with rheumatologic diseases remains suboptimal, particularly for varicella, hepatitis B, and pneumococcus.
Study context
- Population
- Children <16 years diagnosed with a rheumatologic disease at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), 2005–2023, at diagnosis before immunosuppressive therapymedian age at diagnosis 6 years
- Participants
- 74 children
- Outcome
- Vaccination status and serological immunity at diagnosis, prior to immunosuppressive therapy
- Follow-up
- At diagnosis
Methodological detailssingle-centre, medical record review
- Single-centre
- Medical record review
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Vaccination coverage at diagnosis
- Hib
- 93%
- Diphtheria and tetanus
- 91%
- Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
- 80%
- Pertussis and poliomyelitis
- 77-78%
- Pneumococcus
- 77%
- Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
- 72%
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- 64%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Seroprotection at baseline, among those tested · at diagnosis
- Hib
- 100%
- Tetanus
- 91%
- Measles
- 89%
- Diphtheria
- 88%
- Hepatitis B
- 58%
- Varicella
- 47%
- Pneumococcus
- 42%
- Baseline serology available in 38/74, 51%
Longitudinal serological follow-up
- Limited and inconsistent monitoring; only a minority had repeat testing, very few received boosters, despite generally stable protection over time
Original publication
Vaccination coverage and serological follow-up in children with rheumatologic diseases: a retrospective single-centre study. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. Published 23 June 2026. doi:10.
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