Structured guidelines for the use of influenza vaccine among children with chronic pulmonary disorders

Abstract

National committees recommend annual influenza vaccination for children ≶ 6 months of age with chronic pulmonary diseases, but several studies have suggested that many high risk children do not receive the vaccine. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether the use of structured guidelines for which pulmonary disorders warrant influenza vaccination would increase agreement among physicians on whether specific children should be vaccinated. Hospital records of 73 children with an outpatient appointment during the previous month in the pulmonary, allergy or high risk neonatology clinics were reviewed independently by 4 pediatricians. Two reviewers used a set of specific guidelines in deciding whether influenza vaccination was indicated, whereas the other 2 used unspecified clinical judgment. Interrater agreement concerning the advisability of vaccination was higher between the reviewers using the guidelines (overall agreement, 0.89; kappa = 0.73) than between the reviewers using clinical judgment (overall agreement, 0.68; kappa = 0.31). Even among the 34 children for whom all 4 reviewers thought the vaccine advisable, only 13 (38%) had been vaccinated. Studies to define the risk of severe influenza among children with specific lung disorders are needed, but these guidelines can serve as a starting point for the identification of children who deserve individual consideration for annual influenza vaccination.