Vaccines (Feb 2020)

Discrepancies between Protocols of Immunization Targeting Internationally Adopted Children in Western Countries

  • Cecilia Maria Alimenti,
  • Angela Bechini,
  • Sara Boccalini,
  • Paolo Bonanni,
  • Luisa Galli,
  • Elena Chiappini

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010075
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. 75

Abstract

Read online

The immunization status of Internationally Adopted Children (IAC) newly arrived in the adoptive country require a timely assessment and completion of necessary vaccinations. In fact, due to their frequent suboptimal immunization status, IAC are at high risk for vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). Comparative analysis of immunization protocols adopted in European countries, United States, and Canada disclosed different approaches to the immunization of these children. In order to guarantee the continuity of paediatric immunization schedules that may have been interrupted in countries of origin, a homogeneous and internationally shared standard of immunization in the management of IAC should be provided.

Keywords