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Abstract
Objective: Vaccination is an effective and cost-effective preventive healthcare measure that reduces the burden of infectious diseases and prevents their spread. Adult immunization is recommended particularly for high-risk groups, including older adults, healthcare workers, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the types and numbers of vaccines administered, referral patterns, and vaccination indications among individuals presenting to a newly established adult vaccination outpatient clinic in a tertiary care hospital over a one-year period.
Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional, retrospective study included individuals aged 18 years and older, including both healthy adults and patients with comorbidities, who either presented directly to the adult vaccination outpatient clinic or were referred from other hospital departments via vaccine request forms between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. Data on age, sex, chronic disease status, referral patterns, vaccination indications, and administered vaccine types were collected from clinic registry records and the hospital database system. Descriptive statistical methods were used for data analysis.
Results: During the 1-year study period, 2149 vaccine doses were administered in 2045 procedures to 1353 individuals with a mean age of 37.4 ± 16.2 years (range, 18–94 years). Females comprised 60.3% (n=816) and males 39.7% (n=537). Hepatitis B was the most frequently administered vaccine (55.4%), followed by influenza (12.9%) and tetanus/tetanus-diphtheria vaccines (11.5%). Most referrals originated from the Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic (35.9%), followed by Family Medicine (33.6%) and Rheumatology (16.7%).
Conclusion: Adults require vaccination for various indications. Expanding adult vaccination outpatient clinics and increasing physicians’ awareness across specialties regarding adult immunization may help reduce the burden of infectious diseases.
Keywords: Adult immunization, Infectious diseases, Vaccine indications, Chronic illnesses, Preventive healthcare