Faculty mentor/PI email address
lipperinc1@rowan.edu, streekswooden@rowan.edu
Keywords
Vaccine refusal, Well-child visit adherence, Pediatric preventive care, Immunization hesitancy, Healthcare utilization, Early childhood outcomes
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
IRB #G25006
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccination at birth is a critical strategy for preventing both perinatal and horizontal transmission of the Hep B virus1 . Unfortunately, refusal of the birthdose vaccine has increased and is associated with subsequent vaccine refusal at 18 and 24 months2 . This trend raises significant concerns, that families who refuse the Hep B vaccine at birth may also engage less frequently in preventive pediatric care. However, the impact of this association on adherence to routine well-child (WC) visits remains unclear.
Hypothesis: Refusal, or incomplete uptake of the Hep B vaccine series is associated with decreased adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)-recommended WC visit schedule3 from birth up to 18 months of age.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of 724 pediatric patients within the Virtua Health System was conducted by using the EPIC electronic medical record. Adherence was defined as completion of ≥9 WC visits up to 18 months. Patients were categorized by their Hep B vaccination status (0, 1, 2, or 3 doses), and adherence was compared across groups.
Results: Among 724 patients, 589 (81.4%) completed the 3-dose Hep B series; 26 (3.6%) received 2 doses; 15 (2.1%) received 1 dose; and 95 (13.1%) received no doses. Only 47 (8.0%) of fully vaccinated patients met ≥9 WC visit adherence.
Conclusions: Adherence was relatively low across the cohort. Among patients with incomplete or no Hep B vaccination, this pattern may suggest reduced engagement with routine preventive pediatric care and warrants further study
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
Effects of Vaccine Refusal on Adherence to Well-Child Visit Schedule in a Pediatric Population
Background: Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccination at birth is a critical strategy for preventing both perinatal and horizontal transmission of the Hep B virus1 . Unfortunately, refusal of the birthdose vaccine has increased and is associated with subsequent vaccine refusal at 18 and 24 months2 . This trend raises significant concerns, that families who refuse the Hep B vaccine at birth may also engage less frequently in preventive pediatric care. However, the impact of this association on adherence to routine well-child (WC) visits remains unclear.
Hypothesis: Refusal, or incomplete uptake of the Hep B vaccine series is associated with decreased adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)-recommended WC visit schedule3 from birth up to 18 months of age.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of 724 pediatric patients within the Virtua Health System was conducted by using the EPIC electronic medical record. Adherence was defined as completion of ≥9 WC visits up to 18 months. Patients were categorized by their Hep B vaccination status (0, 1, 2, or 3 doses), and adherence was compared across groups.
Results: Among 724 patients, 589 (81.4%) completed the 3-dose Hep B series; 26 (3.6%) received 2 doses; 15 (2.1%) received 1 dose; and 95 (13.1%) received no doses. Only 47 (8.0%) of fully vaccinated patients met ≥9 WC visit adherence.
Conclusions: Adherence was relatively low across the cohort. Among patients with incomplete or no Hep B vaccination, this pattern may suggest reduced engagement with routine preventive pediatric care and warrants further study