Immunization status of hospitalized preschool-age children. The need for hospital-based immunization programs.

The records of 102 hospitalized preschool-age children were reviewed to determine their immunization status. Nineteen children (19%) had a documented delay in immunizations. None of these children were immunized prior to hospital discharge, although no contraindications to immunization had been identified. Two to five months after hospital discharge, ten patients (53%) were still deficient. Compliance with recommended immunization schedules is not adequately addressed during hospital admissions.