Influenza and Pertussis Maternal Vaccination Coverage and Influencing Factors in Spain: A Study Based on Primary Care Records Registry

Abstract

The purpose was to determine the coverage of maternal vaccination against influenza and pertussis, and the characteristics associated with being vaccinated, in a health area of Catalonia, Spain. Some 36,032 anonymized and computerized clinical records registries of pregnant women from Primary Care Centres (e-CAP database) were analysed, from between 2015 and 2018. Vaccination coverage and the association with sociodemographic variables and clinical conditions were estimated using a Poisson regression model. Maternal vaccination coverage against influenza ranged between 11.9% in 2015 and 6.8% in 2018, following a decreasing trend (p < 0.001). Coverage with the tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine varied between 49.8% in 2016 and 79.4% in 2018, following an increasing trend (p < 0.001). Having living children and suffering from obesity were factors associated with not being vaccinated against both infections. The predictive variables of vaccination against influenza were diabetes (IRR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.42–3.30) and asthma (IRR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.76–2.38); and for pertussis, it was asthma (IRR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03–1.17). Different socio-demographic factors and chronic conditions in pregnant women were associated with maternal vaccination, and which will have to be taken into account in clinical practice when implementing strategies to improve the coverage of the programme.

Pregnancy vaccination predictive factors and uptake profiles among Italian women: A cross‐sectional survey study on a large population

“…We found that the self‐reported vaccination coverage for pertussis (56.5%, weighted 49.7%) was higher than for influenza (18.9%, weighted 16.6%), in line with the literature 19 . Indeed, the maternal influenza vaccine uptake rates have been reported to range between 6% and 15% in previous studies from Italy, 3,7,10,14 which are below the European average (25%) and similar to those found in Spain (7%–12%), 20 while data from France are more variable (1%–35%) 21,22 . On the other hand, pertussis vaccine uptake has been reported to be 61% in Italy, 14 50% to 79% in Spain, 20 54% in the United States, 23 and 64% in the United Kingdom 24…”

A Sensitive Public Health Issue—The Vaccine Acceptancy and the Anti-Pertussis Immune Status of Pregnant Women from a Romanian Metropolitan Area

“…Despite much controversy around the subject of PWs immunization, the large majority of the medical staff counsels PWs in a pro-immunization manner. We must admit that a small part of healthcare professionals, maybe not involved directly in the immunization process, may show a hesitant attitude regarding PWs vaccination [ 45 , 46 , 49 ]. Not all specialties’ curricula include immunization classes.…”

“…The vaccination coverage for pertussis in PWs reached variable rates on the European continent. In Spain, a study that analyzed 36,032 clinical records registries of PWs from primary care centers in respect to the acellular pertussis vaccine use showed coverage rates varying between 49.8% in 2016 and 79.4% in 2018 [ 49 ]. In the UK, the mean coverage rate for pertussis vaccine coverage in PWs during 2021–2022 was 64% [ 50 ].…”

Parental practices that influence children’s development: how often are they implemented and by whom. Results from the NASCITA Birth Cohort study

“…Maternal pertussis vaccination in pregnancy, effective in reducing infant disease, is a more recent recommendation in Italy, [23] which may partly explain why only one in three mothers chose to adhere compared to 54.9% for the Tdap vaccine in the US in 2019 to 79.4% in Spain in 2018. [24,25] Evidence about the positive effects of reading aloud to children from early on, a practice taken by only a third of mothers, has been building for years [5,6] and has been promoted since 2000 in Italy through a national initiative endorsed by family pediatricians. [26] The participation of family pediatricians in promoting reading aloud is very effective and should be strongly promoted.…”