tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Hosp Med
. 2026 Mar 5.
doi: 10.1002/jhm.70302. Online ahead of print.
Trends in hospitalizations for vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States from 2014 to 2024
Nathan M Money[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Erin Sullivan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Hannah Rector[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Corrie E McDaniel[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Jessica L Markham[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Mersine A Bryan[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background and objectives: Vaccination rates have declined in recent years, resulting in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) among children. We aimed to evaluate VPD hospitalization rates from 2014 to 2024 and to report associated trends in outcomes including intensive care utilization, mortality, readmissions, and costs.
Methods: Trends in hospitalizations due to VPDs were examined from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2024, among patients aged 0-18 at US children's hospitals within the Pediatric Health Information System database using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models. Subanalyses were conducted to examine trends in hospitalization rates and outcomes for children with medical complexity and immune-compromising conditions.
Results: We identified 160,435 hospitalizations for VPDs, most commonly due to influenza (112,074 [70%]), pneumococcus (16,592 [10%]), Haemophilus influenzae (14,086 [9%]), and rotavirus (10,917 [7%]). Rates of hospitalizations due to all VPDs for the total cohort exhibited seasonal variation and increased over time, with a break in expected trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mean total adjusted cost for VPD hospitalizations per year was $610 million and increased over time. Nearly 25% (n = 39,223) of children required intensive care and 0.8% (n = 1345) died. Children with medical complexity and immune-compromising conditions experienced higher rates of hospitalization due to VPDs as well as higher cost, readmission rates, and mortality.
Conclusions: Pediatric VPD hospitalization rates have increased over time. Children with medical complexity and immune-compromising conditions are disproportionately impacted by VPD hospitalizations. Addressing vaccination hesitancy and barriers to vaccination has the potential to impact healthcare costs and outcomes for children.
. 2026 Mar 5.
doi: 10.1002/jhm.70302. Online ahead of print.
Trends in hospitalizations for vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States from 2014 to 2024
Nathan M Money[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Erin Sullivan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Hannah Rector[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Corrie E McDaniel[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Jessica L Markham[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Mersine A Bryan[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41787753
- DOI: 10.1002/jhm.70302
Background and objectives: Vaccination rates have declined in recent years, resulting in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) among children. We aimed to evaluate VPD hospitalization rates from 2014 to 2024 and to report associated trends in outcomes including intensive care utilization, mortality, readmissions, and costs.
Methods: Trends in hospitalizations due to VPDs were examined from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2024, among patients aged 0-18 at US children's hospitals within the Pediatric Health Information System database using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models. Subanalyses were conducted to examine trends in hospitalization rates and outcomes for children with medical complexity and immune-compromising conditions.
Results: We identified 160,435 hospitalizations for VPDs, most commonly due to influenza (112,074 [70%]), pneumococcus (16,592 [10%]), Haemophilus influenzae (14,086 [9%]), and rotavirus (10,917 [7%]). Rates of hospitalizations due to all VPDs for the total cohort exhibited seasonal variation and increased over time, with a break in expected trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mean total adjusted cost for VPD hospitalizations per year was $610 million and increased over time. Nearly 25% (n = 39,223) of children required intensive care and 0.8% (n = 1345) died. Children with medical complexity and immune-compromising conditions experienced higher rates of hospitalization due to VPDs as well as higher cost, readmission rates, and mortality.
Conclusions: Pediatric VPD hospitalization rates have increased over time. Children with medical complexity and immune-compromising conditions are disproportionately impacted by VPD hospitalizations. Addressing vaccination hesitancy and barriers to vaccination has the potential to impact healthcare costs and outcomes for children.