Vaccination Against Pneumococcus in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia in the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, Between 2004 and 2007 Vacinação contra pneumococo em crianças com doença falciforme no Espírito Santo, entre 2004 e 2007

Summary Sickle cell anemia runs with high vulnerability to infections, mainly by encapsuled bacteria. This transversal study had as its objective, the verification of vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae in children diagnosed with sickle cell anemia between 2004 and 2005 by the Neonatal Screening Reference Service of the Association of Relatives and Friends of the Handicapped of Vitoria (SRTN-APAE)*, which researches hemaglobin s. disease in 92% of the living newborns in the state of Espirito Santo. Revision of the medical records of all children diagnosed and checking of the vaccination registry of the Reference Center for Special Immunobiologics (CRIE-ES) has shown vaccinal coverage of 50%. Complete vaccination was predominant among children residing in the Great Victoria area, whose mothers were twenty years or older and with a lesser number of siblings, but there was no association between these variables and the carrying out of the plan. To increase the low vaccinal coverage detected, the promotion of permanent education of health professionals and the decentralization of the CRIE-ES, and adequate supply of immunobiologicals and home visits to patients who fail to attend is suggested.