TITLE:
Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates of Elderly and Eligible Adult Inpatients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman
AUTHORS:
Kowthar Salman Hassan
KEYWORDS:
Influenza, Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Vaccines, Elderly, Adults with Chronic Medical Conditions, Vaccination Rates, Oman, Inpatients
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.14 No.4,
December
5,
2024
ABSTRACT: Our institution, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, has set a protocol for vaccinating elderly > 65 years and eligible adult groups of patients against seasonal influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae when admitted as inpatients or seen at outpatient clinics. Here, I assess the compliance of various medical teams with this policy. Background: Methods: electronic records of admitted patients in adult general medical words were reviewed for vaccination from 28 January 2024 until 28 February 2024. Results: Among 203 patients at presentation, 45 patients were new with unknown immunization status. At presentation, only seven and eleven of 158 patients (4.4% and 7%) had been vaccinated in the previous admission for influenza and Pneumococcus respectively. Upon discharge only four and six patients (2.12% and 3.24%) were given seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccines respectively. Discharge summaries and referral letters mentioned vaccination status of patients in two cases only. Conclusion: Rates of vaccination against influenza and S pneumoniae are very low in the elderly and adult patients with chronic medical conditions. A surveillance system needs to be set in place to monitor this.