Vaccination coverage during pregnancy and factors associated with refusal of recommended vaccinations : An Italian cross sectional study

© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd..

Background: The vaccines recommended during pregnancy are the Tdap, the influenza vaccine, and, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the vaccine against COVID-19. This survey aimed at determining vaccination coverage among pregnant women and adverse events, reasons for vaccine refusal, and factors associated with vaccine uptake.

Methods: A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted on women who delivered between March and April 2022 at Careggi University Hospital in Florence, Italy. Information on the vaccinations (Tdap, influenza and COVID-19) received during pregnancy were collected through in-person interviews.

Results: Among 307 enrolled women (response rate 99 % on a study population of 310 eligible women), 74 % of patients were vaccinated with Tdap, 82 % against COVID-19, and only 33 % against influenza. Vaccination coverage for Tdap and COVID-19 was significantly higher among Italian than foreign patients (80 % vs 51 %, p < 0.001 and 86 % vs 69 %, p = 0.002, respectively), and for Tdap was higher among patients followed in the private vs public care setting. The main reasons behind refusal of vaccinations were low risk perception of influenza (41 %), insufficient information received from the prenatal care provider regarding the Tdap (35 %), and, for the COVID-19, fear of vaccine side effects (64 %), and concerns about effects on the fetus (70 %).

Conclusions: Adherence to the influenza vaccine was low because of reduced perception of the disease risks. The difference in vaccination coverage between Italians and foreigners is an example of healthcare disparity. Better information provided to patients about vaccines' efficacy and safety is advisable to increase acceptance of recommended vaccines.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:18

Enthalten in:

Vaccine: X - 18(2024) vom: 15. Apr., Seite 100483

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Seravalli, Viola [VerfasserIn]
Romualdi, Irene [VerfasserIn]
Ammar, Oumaima [VerfasserIn]
De Blasi, Chiara [VerfasserIn]
Boccalini, Sara [VerfasserIn]
Bechini, Angela [VerfasserIn]
Di Tommaso, Mariarosaria [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

COVID-19
Influenza
Journal Article
Maternal immunization
Pertussis
Vaccine refusal
Vaccine uptake

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 25.04.2024

published: Electronic-eCollection

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100483

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM371126959