Acta PaediatricaPub Date : 2026-11-01Epub Date: 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1111/apa.70398
Ozge Yendur, Zuhal Gundogdu
{"title":"Parents Who Accepted the Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine Were More Aware of the Severity of the Disease and Risks.","authors":"Ozge Yendur, Zuhal Gundogdu","doi":"10.1111/apa.70398","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70398","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal meningitis, poses a significant global health threat for children. This study aimed to identify the key reasons why parents accepted meningococcal vaccines. It also wanted to promote wider meningococcal vaccination efforts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted with the parents of children who visited a university hospital's paediatric outpatient clinic in Turkey between 20 August 2015 and 30 May 2016. The parents provided sociodemographic information and responded to a questionnaire about the meningococcal conjugate vaccination (MCV), based on the Health Belief Model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The parents of 302 children (52.3% girls), with a mean age of 6.77 ± 4.77, participated in the study. Mothers accounted for 80.1%. Sociodemographic factors, including the parents' education and the mother's occupation, were significant factors in accepting the vaccine. So were recognizing the severity of the disease and the perceived susceptibility and risks. Vaccine uptake also increased if the parents received concise and timely information from doctors. However, some parents were uncomfortable with the number of injections their children would receive and larger families were also a barrier.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Factors that affected parents' acceptance of the MCV included sociodemographic factors, awareness of the severity of the disease and perceived susceptibility and risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2587-2594"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145650191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PaediatricaPub Date : 2026-11-01Epub Date: 2025-12-07DOI: 10.1111/apa.70409
Marie-Laure Charkaluk, Beatrice Gouyon, Simon Lorrain, Alexandra Nuytten
{"title":"Vaccination of Very Preterm Infants in French Neonatal Units.","authors":"Marie-Laure Charkaluk, Beatrice Gouyon, Simon Lorrain, Alexandra Nuytten","doi":"10.1111/apa.70409","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70409","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2634-2636"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145702982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"First Immunisations as per UK Schedule in Extreme Preterm Infants-Are They That Scary?","authors":"Elise Peever, Rishini Wanigasekara, Vennila Ponnusamy","doi":"10.1111/apa.70077","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70077","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2630-2633"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143722616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PaediatricaPub Date : 2026-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-22DOI: 10.1111/apa.70308
Margrethe Greve-Isdahl, Elina Seppälä
{"title":"Understanding the High Incidence of Pertussis in Norway: The Role of Test Activity.","authors":"Margrethe Greve-Isdahl, Elina Seppälä","doi":"10.1111/apa.70308","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70308","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2628-2629"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145126676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PaediatricaPub Date : 2026-11-01Epub Date: 2026-06-01DOI: 10.1111/apa.70629
A Drougia, F Ladomenou, E Sourla, A Klapas, P Pappa, C Skendou, M Paschopoulos, V Giapros
{"title":"Structured Antenatal Counselling Improves Maternal Influenza and Pertussis Uptake: A Prospective Comparative Study in Greece.","authors":"A Drougia, F Ladomenou, E Sourla, A Klapas, P Pappa, C Skendou, M Paschopoulos, V Giapros","doi":"10.1111/apa.70629","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70629","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Maternal immunization is essential for preventing severe influenza and pertussis in pregnant women and young infants. Despite clear recommendations, uptake in Greece remains suboptimal, and evidence on effective antenatal interventions is limited. This study evaluated the impact of a structured counselling programme on maternal influenza and pertussis vaccination coverage.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective before-after study was conducted among 595 pregnant women delivering at a regional perinatal centre across two influenza seasons (2022-2023 and 2024-2025). During the pre-intervention period, routine antenatal care lacked standardized counselling. The intervention included provider-initiated structured counselling supported by an educational leaflet and routine prescription of both vaccines. Vaccination status was confirmed postpartum. Multivariable logistic regression identified determinants of uptake.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Antenatal counselling increased from 43.1% to 74.2%. Influenza vaccination rose from 38.5% to 61.4%, pertussis from 33.8% to 65.5% and combined uptake more than doubled (27.0% to 58.4%). Structured counselling significantly improved adherence (OR 8.7; 95% CI 5.236-14.493). Fear of vaccine-related risks remained the main reason for refusal, though less frequently reported post-intervention.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Structured antenatal counselling substantially improved maternal influenza and pertussis vaccination coverage. Integrating standardized counselling and routine prescription into antenatal care aligns with international recommendations and may strengthen maternal immunization efforts in Greece.</p>","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2572-2579"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659382/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PaediatricaPub Date : 2026-11-01Epub Date: 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1111/apa.70330
Caroline K Johannesen, Stine Lund, Zitta Barella Harboe, Thea K Fischer
{"title":"Birth Month Matters in Timing of Seasonal Prevention of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus.","authors":"Caroline K Johannesen, Stine Lund, Zitta Barella Harboe, Thea K Fischer","doi":"10.1111/apa.70330","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70330","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections in infants and young children. To optimise preventive strategies, we investigate the association between birth month and severe RSV infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study utilised national health discharge and microbiology registries to investigate the association between birth month and severe RSV leading to hospitalisation in Denmark 2015-2023 in a matched case-control design.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 634 148 hospital admissions were identified, including 30 304 RSV-related admissions. The risk of RSV hospitalisation was significantly associated with sex, birth month, birth weight, gestational age, perinatal tobacco exposure, congenital disease. December was the birth month with the highest risk of RSV hospitalisation (OR: 2.7, CI 95%: 2.5-3.0), followed by November, January, October.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Birth month significantly influences the risk of severe RSV infections in children under 2 years of age in countries with a temperate climate and four annual seasons such as Denmark. Birth months of September through February are associated with significantly higher risks of being hospitalised with RSV infection. These insights should inform national RSV preventive strategies, including maternal vaccination and neonatal immunisation with monoclonal antibodies in countries with similar climates to optimise timing and efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2580-2586"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145294428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PaediatricaPub Date : 2026-11-01Epub Date: 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1111/apa.70159
Tine Dalby, Aoife Ronayne, Peter Henrik Andersen
{"title":"Understanding the Epidemiology of Pertussis in Denmark.","authors":"Tine Dalby, Aoife Ronayne, Peter Henrik Andersen","doi":"10.1111/apa.70159","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70159","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2625-2627"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659420/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144188470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PaediatricaPub Date : 2026-11-01Epub Date: 2025-09-15DOI: 10.1111/apa.70300
Bernice Aronsson, Lennart Nilsson, Jann Storsaeter, Henrik Källberg, Emma Appelqvist
{"title":"Swedish Infants Developed Pertussis at a Younger Age if Their Mother Was the Possible Source of Infection in 2009-2015.","authors":"Bernice Aronsson, Lennart Nilsson, Jann Storsaeter, Henrik Källberg, Emma Appelqvist","doi":"10.1111/apa.70300","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate the possible source of laboratory-confirmed pertussis in infants under 6 months of age.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This nationwide prospective study was based on laboratory-confirmed cases reported in the enhanced pertussis surveillance in Sweden from 2009 to 2015. The parents or carers of 345 infants were interviewed about their clinical details including the age at onset and disease severity. They were also asked to state who had been in contact with the infant prior to onset, in order to identify possible sources of infection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only one possible source of infection was identified for 191 infants and the mother was presumed to be the source in 33%. These 63 cases showed different characteristics from those where a father, sibling, someone outside the immediate family or two to three people were identified as possible sources of infection. They were significantly younger, with a median of 31 days of age at onset (p < 0.01), and their hospitalisation rate (79%) was significantly higher (p < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results support general maternal vaccination against pertussis. Other preventive measures also need to be strengthened and implemented to prevent severe pertussis disease in the youngest infants with higher risk of death.</p>","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2566-2571"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659414/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145066626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Acta PaediatricaPub Date : 2026-11-01Epub Date: 2026-03-25DOI: 10.1111/apa.70487
Gianpaolo Scalia Tomba, Frida Kasteng, Annika Ersson, Sören Andersson, Emma Appelqvist, Marie Nordahl, Kari Johansen
{"title":"Modelling Impact of Different Varicella Immunisation Strategies Upon Introduction in the Swedish National Programme.","authors":"Gianpaolo Scalia Tomba, Frida Kasteng, Annika Ersson, Sören Andersson, Emma Appelqvist, Marie Nordahl, Kari Johansen","doi":"10.1111/apa.70487","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apa.70487","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Countries with varicella immunisation programmes have seen major reductions in disease burden. While two-dose schedules are now universally adopted, dosing ages vary, and some countries initially include catch-up vaccination of older children to speed impact. This modelling study assessed three two-dose schedules in the Swedish setting (1) 12 and 18 months, (2) 18 months and 5 years, and (3) 18 months and 7 years, with and without catch-up of susceptible children based on their medical history.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A deterministic, compartmental, age-structured, dynamic transmission model was used to evaluate the different strategies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>With coverage similar to other childhood vaccinations in Sweden (≥ 95%) but no catch-up, varicella cases are projected to decrease significantly within four years of programme start for all schedules modelled. However, a temporary rebound may occur around years 4-7 due to accumulating susceptibles before subsiding. Adding catch-up vaccination in this high-coverage setting accelerates and sustains the decline, with varicella disease burden significantly reduced within 2-3 years.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A national childhood varicella programme in Sweden could cut transmission and disease burden within 4 years, with catch-up vaccination speeding this to a few years and lowering rebound risk. The schedule should be guided by programmatic considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":55562,"journal":{"name":"Acta Paediatrica","volume":" ","pages":"2525-2532"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659423/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147516347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}