摘要：In 1993, there were 16,207 preterm births (37 weeksgestation) in Australia, representing 6.3% of allconfinements. The majority of preterm births weredelivered at 32 - 36 weeks (5.1% of all confinements), but0.7% and 0.6% of all confinements occurred at 28-31weeks and 20 -27 weeks respectively.1 Improvements inneonatal care have resulted in the survival of more infantsof lower gestational age.2All preterm infants are prone toinfection, and infants of lower gestational age withunderlying lung disease from long term ventilation areespecially susceptible to respiratory pathogens. Theseinfants can benefit greatly from immunisation, and healthcare providers have a responsibility to ensure that theyreceive appropriate and timely immunisations. This brief report provides a summary of current knowledgeabout the safety, efficacy and duration of immunity of theAustralian standard schedule vaccines in preterm infants
