Cardiorespiratory events following second dose of DTaP in prematurely born infants

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In this issue of The Journal, Flatz-Jequier et al aimed to analyze the recurrence of cardiorespiratory events following the second administration of DTaP – including simultaneous immunizations in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Of 33 available infants who had cardiorespiratory events following the first dose of vaccines, 18% had recurrence following the second immunization. None of the 31 infants who had no event following first dose had an event following the second dose. The retrospective and non-blinded observer methodology, and partial participation of VLBW infants with first “reactions” (primarily those still hospitalized), caution against strong conclusions around management of infants around the time of second doses. The postnatal age of 3 months of age at second dose in these Swiss infants, compared with an anticipated 4 months of age for US infants, also is noteworthy.