Objective:

Infections generate a metabolic stress in children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) and worsen the metabolic abnormalities. Immunization practices prevent children with IEM from vaccine preventable infections and decrease mortality and morbidity. It is recommended to vaccinate children with IEM with the same schedule applied for healthy children, but there are some precautions. The aim of this study is to investigate vaccination status and vaccine delays among children with IEM.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study evaluated 99 children with IEM. Patients who were diagnosed with IEM up to 18 years of age constituted the study population. Existing comorbid conditions, and additional diseases were questioned. Immunization rates and its relationship with clinical classification, existing comorbid conditions and additional diseases were assessed. Adverse events after vaccinations were questioned.

Results:

Among 99 patients with IEM, 14 had vaccine delays. The incidence of vaccine delays in patients in the stable group was significantly lower than the sickest and chronic disease groups. There was statistically significant difference between comorbid conditions, additional disease(s), and presence of vaccine delay. No adverse events after vaccinations were declared.

Conclusion:

Clinical characteristics of the disease, comorbid conditions and additional diseases may be the reasons of vaccine delays in patients with IEM. Questioning the vaccination status at outpatient clinics of metabolism, and opportunistic vaccination during hospitalization if possible, may prevent vaccine delays of children with IEM.

Keywords: Inborn errors of metabolism, Children, Vaccination, Metabolic diseases