Search

Objectives: To assess influenza and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine coverage during pregnancy, explore key socioeconomic and maternity pathway‐related predictors of vaccination, and detect specific patterns of vaccination uptake. Methods: The authors cross‐sectionally analyzed self‐reported data obtained from the systematic survey on the maternity pathways of Tuscany. They selected all pregnant women that completed from March 2019 to June 2022 the third‐trimester questionnaire (n = 25 160), which included two dichotomous items on influenza and Tdap vaccination, as well as socioeconomic and pathway‐related questions. Multilevel logistic models were performed to assess vaccination predictors and cluster analysis to identify vaccination patterns. Results: Vaccination coverage was higher for pertussis (56.5%) than for influenza (18.9%). The main predictors of vaccination were high socioeconomic status, attending private gynecologists, and receiving vaccine information. Three clusters were identified: cluster 1 included women receiving both Tdap and influenza vaccines; cluster 2 included women receiving no vaccinations; and cluster 3 included women receiving only the pertussis vaccine. Although women from cluster 3 were of middle to low education status, vaccine information was the main adherence determinant also in this group. Conclusions: Health workers and policymakers should focus on groups of pregnant women less prone to vaccination to promote vaccination information and encourage wider uptake and coverage. Synopsis: Patient‐reported data from a systematic survey involving pregnant women from Tuscany revealed specific vaccination patterns during pregnancy and the main predictors of vaccination uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The authors aimed to assess the characteristics and integration of immunization services into the prenatal care provided by maternity care units (MCUs) in Italy. Methods: A cross‐sectional nationwide study using a web‐based survey was conducted from June to August 2021. The study population consisted of 342 obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs), members of the Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and heads of MCUs. The main outcome was to assess the performance of several vaccine‐related services among the surveyed MCUs. Results: Overall, 112 of 342 MCUs completed the survey, for an overall response rate of 32.7%. Almost all MCUs (96.4%) provided vaccine information, but only 22% had an onsite vaccination clinic. Less than half (43.8%) offered vaccines during prenatal visits and 75% of those sites required women to set up an extra appointment for vaccination. Although 68% MCUs recorded vaccines administered, only 20% of them managed to record vaccines in their own medical records. The institutional‐logistic issues were the most voted vaccination barrier (40.2%). Conclusions: Institutional barriers and lack of certain vaccine‐related services offered during prenatal care in Italian MCUs might be responsible for many missed vaccination opportunities. Embedding maternal immunization programs within the current prenatal care services might optimize vaccine coverage. Synopsis: The lack of integration between maternal immunization programs and prenatal care services might represent a significant barrier that prevents maternal care providers from recommending and offering vaccines to pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse the temporal trend of HPV vaccination coverage (VC) in Spain in women aged 15‐55 years not included in systematic vaccination programmes during the period 2007‐2020. Methods: We assessed the vaccine coverage rate in this population based on three estimations: 1) annual vaccination coverage with at least one dose (VCR ≥ 1d), 2) annual VC for the full schedule (VCR3d), and 3) cumulative VC for the full schedule (aVCR). Results: Annual VCR ≥ 1d and VCR3d were highest in 2008 (2.40% and 0.66% respectively) and subsequently decreased drastically in 2011 (0.55% and 0.15%). From 2017 to 2019 there was an increase from 1.4‐fold to 1.6‐fold, respectively, which decreased in 2020. In relation to aVCR, there was an increasing trend throughout the study period with approximately 4.03% of the study population having been vaccinated against HPV in 2020. Conclusion: In Spain, the cumulative vaccination coverage against HPV in women between 15‐55 years old not included in current vaccination programmes remains very low. Nonetheless, the temporal trend has shown a slight increase in recent years. Despite the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020, no significant negative impact on vaccination coverage has been observed in this population. In Spain, cumulative vaccination coverage against HPV in women aged 15–55 years remains very low, but temporal trend has increased slightly in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conclusion, continuing attention to COVID-19 vaccination among vulnerable populations such as pregnant people will enhance vaccine uptake and coverage strategies and improve maternal health. The study by Rodriguez-Sibaja et al.1 aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccination status among pregnant people and factors associated with its uptake. It is worth emphasizing that there was no information about vaccination status or factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the region at the time the study was conducted. [Extracted from the article]