Evaluation of the Attitude of Parents in Pediatric Oncology Towards COVID-19 Vaccine.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus (SARS, COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization since March 2020. Patients with active cancer should be considered especially for priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, our study aimed to learn parents' opinions of cancer-diagnosed patients about the COVID-19 vaccine. Between December 2021 and January 2022, 76 people were willing to answer the questionnaire from the parents of outpatient/inpatient patients at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic of Dr. Sami Ulus Obstetrics, Child Health and Diseases Education Research Hospital were included. In our study, 18 parents (23.7%) did not get vaccinated. Among the reasons for not getting vaccinated, the most common answer for "I fear from the vaccine's side effects.", "Do you think oncology patients are at risk for COVID-19?", "Do you think the COVID-19 pandemic affects cancer treatment?" were 90.7%, 89.5% and 21% yes, respectively. Would your opinion of the vaccine be positive if the domestic vaccine was produced?"-67.4% answered yes. Vaccine hesitation and public misinformation put cancer patients at risk. Increasing awareness of the rejection of COVID-19 vaccines is important for public health and the fight against the pandemic. In addition, the doctors' recommendations for conducting oncology treatment will significantly impact parents' compliance with the COVID-19 vaccine.

A common problem in infants: vitamin B12 deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional vitamin B12 (VB < sub > 12 < /sub > ) deficiency is characterized by anemia, the inability to gain weight, delay or decline in development. Children of mothers with VB < sub > 12 < /sub > deficiency have a risk of nutritional VB < sub > 12 < /sub > deficiency. Prevention and early treatment are necessary to prevent irreversible neurological damage. We aimed to conduct a retrospective study to understand the characteristics of patients with VB < sub > 12 < /sub > deficiency. METHODS: Our study included patients admitted to Baskent University Faculty of Medicine Pediatric Hematology outpatient clinic between January 2015 - February 2020 for VB < sub > 12 < /sub > deficiency. Their clinical and laboratory characteristics were retrospectively examined through the hospital automation system. RESULTS: Vitamin B12 deficiency was detected in 129 of the 3198 patients; 100 of them were followed regularly. The mean age at admission of our patients was 10 ± 12 months (1 month - 7.5 years); 98% of these children were aged 0-2 years. The mean VB < sub > 12 < /sub > level of our patients was 171.63 ± 51.2 pg/ml (83 - 273), mean hemoglobin 11.2 ± 1.37 g/dl (6.3 - 13.9), mean MCV 74.5± 9.1 fl (54-106.5) and mean iron level was 54 ±23 µg/dl (18 - 94). At the end of one month of loading therapy (oral or intramuscular, IM), the average VB < sub > 12 < /sub > level was 769 ± 537 pg/ml (post loading). One month after the loading therapy (pre-maintenance) the average VB < sub > 12 < /sub > level was 426 ±156 pg/ml. In seven cases who received IM therapy, the loading treatment was performed for the second time. The mean VB < sub > 12 < /sub > level of the mothers of 85 cases was 174±127 pg/ml (134 - 650). VB < sub > 12 < /sub > deficiency was detected in 55% of mothers, VB < sub > 12 < /sub > level being between 200 - 300 pg/ml in 76%, and below 200 pg/ml in the 24%. The family members of 35% of our patients (including parents) had VB < sub > 12 < /sub > deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: In our country, routine screening of VB < sub > 12 < /sub > levels in infants is not performed; however, its early diagnosis and treatment can prevent many adverse effects mainly on the central nervous system. The fact that 98% of patients were 0-2 years old indicates that its deficiency may be quite high in the young age, and routine screening of this age group for VB < sub > 12 < /sub > deficiency and further studies for prophylaxis may be needed.