Cocoon Vaccination Among Mothers of Very Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVES

Preterm survivors are at risk of acquiring communicable diseases post-discharge. Cocoon strategy is immunization of close contacts to prevent infections in such vulnerable individuals. This study assessed the coverage of cocoon vaccines among mothers of very preterm infants.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed the proportion of mothers of very preterm (< 30 weeks) infants who received the eligible cocoon vaccines [tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), influenza, and varicella] in the antenatal or postnatal period.

RESULTS

Seventy-five out of 159 (47.2%) mothers had received all three cocoon vaccines; the median postnatal age of receiving vaccines was 38 (23, 55) days. Influenza and Tdap vaccines were administered to 64.1% and 48.5% mothers, respectively, either antenatally or postnatally. Only 49.2% (34 out of 69) of the fathers were covered for cocoon vaccines.

CONCLUSION

Less than 50% mothers were compliant with cocoon vaccination protocol. This calls for more intensive efforts towards improving vaccine coverage among close contacts of high-risk infants.