Vaccination timeliness of preterm infants hospitalised in a neonatal intensive care unit in Denmark

Abstract

In Denmark, preterm births (<37 weeks of gestation) comprise 6.5% of annual births, corresponding to approximately 4000 births. 1 Of the preterm infants, 77% are born between weeks 32 and 36, 15% are born between weeks 28 and 32, and 8% are born <28 weeks of gestation. 1 Preterm birth is associated with increased susceptibility to infections due to immunological immaturity and insufficient transfer of maternal antibodies. [2][3][4] Particularly, vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis and pneumococcal disease compose significant risks with higher incidence and severity for preterm infants.