Vaccination in paediatric transplantation – General recommendations. A position paper by the European Reference Network TransplantChild
This webinar will be on November 10, 2026 (16:00 CET)
Infectious diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality among paediatric transplant recipients. Although vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent infections, achieving adequate protection in both solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients is often challenging because of impaired immune responses and immunosuppressive therapies.
Despite international recommendations supporting timely immunization before and after transplantation, vaccination coverage and protective immunity remain suboptimal in many settings. Common barriers include intercurrent illness, heterogeneity of national immunization programmes, vaccine hesitancy, and uncertainty regarding optimal vaccination schedules.
This webinar will present the key recommendations developed by a group of expert belonging to the European Reference Network (ERN) TransplantChild, recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (JPGN).
The position paper provides practical, evidence-based guidance to optimize immunization practices in paediatric SOT and HSCT candidates and recipients, addressing pre-transplant assessment, post-transplant vaccination strategies, and approaches to improve coverage in caregivers and healthcare providers.
The webinar aims to support healthcare professionals in implementing standardized vaccination practices and ultimately reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable infections in this high-risk population.
Speakers:
·Dr. Valeria Casotti, Paediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Child Health Department, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
Learning outcomes: after attending this webinar, participants will have an improved understanding of the infectious risks and immunization challenges affecting paediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) candidates and recipients. They will gain up-to-date knowledge of current evidence on vaccination before and after transplantation and develop practical skills to apply the suggested recommendations in clinical practice, including the selection of appropriate vaccination strategies and the optimization of immunization pathways to improve protection against vaccine-preventable infections.