Coverage rates against vaccine-preventable diseases among healthcare workers in Sicily (Italy)

Ledda, Caterina; Rapisarda, Venerando; Maltezou, Helena C.; Contrino, Eleonora; Conforto, Arianna; Maida, Carmelo Massimo; Tramuto, Fabio; Vitale, Francesco; Costantino, Claudio

doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckaa179

Cited by 13 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…All HCP must be skilled in occupational exposure risks and preventive and protective procedures. Furthermore, previous studies in the same Italian hospital have shown their low vaccination coverage for VPDs [ 9 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 28 ]. This exposes themselves and their patients to VPDs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One group intended for priority vaccination is healthcare personnel (HCP). Studies have shown significant gaps in knowledge towards VPDs and vaccines among HCP and, therefore, vaccination uptake rates among them [ 8 , 9 ]. This lack of HCP compliance towards vaccinations contributes to vaccine hesitancy, which detracts from vaccination programs’ effectiveness [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attitudes of Healthcare Personnel towards Vaccinations before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ledda

Costantino

Cuccia³

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Vaccines constitute highly effective tools for controlling and eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and are assessed to avert between two to three million deaths per year globally. Healthcare personnel (HCP) constitute a priority group for several vaccinations. However, studies indicate significant rates of vaccine hesitancy among them and, therefore, of acceptance of vaccination recommendations. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital in Southern Italy to assess the knowledge and attitudes of HCP about VPDs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, estimate their intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and search for determinants that may influence their choice. A self-administered questionnaire was used. HCP improved their knowledge about VPDs and were more favorable to vaccinations in September–December 2020 compared to January–December 2019. Overall, 75% of respondents would get a COVID-19 vaccine. Our findings indicate a potential role of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Italian HCP’s knowledge and attitudes towards vaccines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes of Healthcare Personnel towards Vaccinations before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ledda

Costantino

Cuccia³

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Vaccination is an important means to prevent the occurrence and spread of serious infectious diseases and related complications [47]. HCWs have a high risk of exposure and are also the main means of transmission and spread of infections in hospitals, due to their contact with patients [48].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Prompts Doctors to Recommend COVID-19 Vaccines: Is It a Question of Positive Emotion?

et al. 2021

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Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools and have greatly contributed to eliminating or controlling several serious vaccine-treatable diseases over the past century. To curb the spread of COVID-19, efficacious vaccination is emerging as essential in mitigating the disease and preventing deaths. Health care workers (HCW) are one of the first groups to receive vaccinations, so it is important to consider their attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination to better address barriers to widespread vaccination acceptance. This study aimed to evaluate variables that are linked with the recommendation of vaccines and intention to take-up vaccination against COVID-19 among the HCWs, in the context of the current pandemic. The study was conducted during the first week of the vaccination campaign dedicated to Italian HCWs, beginning in December 2020, and it involved all doctors in a public hospital in Sicily. The following questionnaires were administered: (1) The perceived vaccine trust questionnaire, measuring the degree of trust in vaccines by healthcare professionals both in general and for the protection of healthcare professionals themselves and patients; (2) the positive and negative affect scale-state (PANAS), for assessing positive and negative emotions in relation to their work as “frontline care providers”; (3) The locus of control of behaviour (LCB) to measure the extent to which subjects perceive responsibility for their personal behaviour (internal vs. external); (4) recommendation vaccines item, referring to the intention to recommend vaccination. The findings suggest that socio-demographic control variables (age, gender, and seniority) showed little or no predictive power in vaccine recommendation, while vaccine confidence, positive emotions, and internal locus of control were excellent predictors of vaccine recommendations by doctors. Younger doctors, both in age and experience, are more confident in vaccines and recommend them more frequently. It is essential to improve institutional communication addressed to doctors to enhance their role as vaccination facilitators.

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“…To ensure the total protection of a pregnant woman, strategies that can involve the vaccination of figures who are most in contact with her (e.g., partners) should be selected, giving the possibility to perform the 10-year booster dose of vaccination in case the booster has not been administered in the last decade [ 61 , 62 ].…”

Section: Importance Of Vaccination For a Pregnant Woman And Strategie...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Experts’ Opinion for Improving Pertussis Vaccination Rates in Adolescents and Adults: A Call to Action

Gabutti

Cetin

Conversano³

et al. 2022

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This article highlights the importance of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (with reduced antigen content, dTap) vaccination in preventing pertussis, a respiratory infection that is still widespread and easily transmitted. In particular, it highlights the need to receive a booster vaccination throughout life to maintain high antibody levels, which decrease through time. This document collects the opinions that emerged from the comparison between major Italian experts in the field of vaccination. This working group was created to promote a “call to action”, aimed at raising awareness among all institutions, public health authorities, and health workers involved in the vaccination process, about the importance of dTap vaccine administration and with the mindset of implementing the strategic vaccination plan provided by the National Vaccine Plan (NVP). In fact, despite this vaccine being included in the NVP, there are some issues attributable to the practice of vaccination (local health authorities, vaccination centers, occupational health services, gynecology centers, societies of work). Therefore, it is necessary that the Ministry defines the vaccination coverage objectives, identifies the groups of subjects who should receive the booster vaccine (subjects exposed to greater risk of infection, subjects over 60, pregnant women), and applies all the necessary measures to encourage the implementation of this practice.

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Coverage rates against vaccine-preventable diseases among healthcare workers in Sicily (Italy)

Cited by 13 publications

References 29 publications

Attitudes of Healthcare Personnel towards Vaccinations before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Attitudes of Healthcare Personnel towards Vaccinations before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

What Prompts Doctors to Recommend COVID-19 Vaccines: Is It a Question of Positive Emotion?

Experts’ Opinion for Improving Pertussis Vaccination Rates in Adolescents and Adults: A Call to Action

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