Measles in Italy 2002: studies show correlation between vaccine coverage and incidence

The geographical distribution of measles in Italy during the epidemic that occurred in 2002 (1) closely reflected the vaccination coverage distribution at provincial and regional level. Over recent years there had been an accumulation of susceptible children and adolescents. Estimates of the full impact of the 2002 epidemic are awaited although by July in one region there had been 13 cases of encephalitis and three deaths (1). To eliminate measles in Italy, it will be necessary to vaccinate more than 95% of children with two doses of vaccine and reduce older susceptibles with supplementary “catch-up” vaccination programmes. Also, as elimination gets closer, surveillance and the capacity to investigate epidemics must be improved.

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Monitoring regional-level vaccination coverage rates in Lombardy Region (Northern Italy)

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1449 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

R Croci ◽

D Rossi ◽

A Odone ◽

C Signorelli

Keyword(s):

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Regional Level ◽

Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Birth Cohorts ◽

Lombardy Region ◽

Two Measures ◽

Populated Region ◽

Coverage Rates

Abstract Background Lombardy is Italy's most affluent and most populated region, with the highest national per capita GDP, and over 10 million residents - more than 16 out of 27 EU countries. In 2017, two measures were approved against vaccine hesitancy, i.e. the National Plan for Vaccine Prevention (2017-2019) and Law no. 119 on mandatory vaccinations. Aim of the study is to monitor Lombardy regional-level vaccine coverage trends and to assess the new legislative framework's overall impact. Methods We analysed and critically interpreted Lombardy regional-level vaccination coverage (2000-2018 for childhood vaccinations; birth cohorts 1997-2005 for HPV; flu seasons 1999-2000/2018-2019 for influenza). All data were extracted from the Italian Ministry of Health website. We carried out descriptive trend analysis for measles and polio-containing vaccines in 24 month-old-children, Human Papilloma Virus vaccine in 12-year-old females, and influenza vaccine in seniors over 65 years. Regional data were compared with the corresponding Italian national averages. Results Childhood vaccinations: Lombardy and Italy have never met the 95% target for measles-containing vaccines (average coverage 2000-2018: Lombardy 91,79%, Italy 86,94%). Polio-containing vaccines have always remained above the 95% threshold, with a drop in 2015-2017. In 2018 they increased back to safety levels (Lombardy 95,31%, Italy 95,09%). HPV: coverage has always kept below WHO/SAGE intermediate 80% goal (average coverage, birth cohorts 1997-2005: Lombardy 75,58%, Italy 72,73%). Influenza: mean coverage has been alarmingly inadequate (Lombardy 54,09%, Italy 57,98%) compared to WHO-recommended minimum of 75%. Conclusions Except for influenza, coverage in Lombardy is slightly higher than the Italian average. Exploring Lombardy's response to the national legislation could guide policymakers in developing tailored vaccination strategies. Key messages Overall, vaccination coverage in Lombardy is slightly higher than the Italian average. In 2017, law n.119 on mandatory vaccinations came into force, acting as a powerful tool for coverage increase.

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Epidemic measles in the Campania region of Italy leads to 13 cases of encephalitis and 3 deaths

Weekly releases (1997–2007) ◽

10.2807/esw.06.27.01933-en ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 6 (27) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M L Ciofi Degli Atti ◽

S Salmaso ◽

Renato Pizzuti ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Measles Vaccine ◽

Mmr Vaccine ◽

Regional Health ◽

Ministry Of Health ◽

Campania Region ◽

Health Authorities ◽

Catch Up ◽

Regional Health Authorities

Measles vaccine became commercially available in Italy in 1976 and the administration of one dose at 15 months of age was recommended by the ministry of health in 1979. In the 1980s, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced, and in 1999 the recommended age for the first dose was lowered to 12 months. Decisions regarding the administration of MMR vaccine are the responsibility of the regional health authorities, and vaccination coverage varies greatly by region. In 1999, taking into account the varying levels of vaccine coverage in children up to the age of 24 months in different regions, the ministry of health recommended strategies including a catch up campaign, and the offer of a second dose (1). A distinction was therefore made between areas with one dose measles vaccine coverage of less than 80% and those with higher levels of coverage. In areas with lower coverage, the vaccination of older susceptible children was emphasised, while in regions where vaccine coverage within the first two years of life exceeded 80%, the administration of a second dose at 5-6 years or at 11-12 years of age was recommended.

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Influenza vaccination coverage in a population-based cohort of Australian-born Aboriginal and non-Indigenous older adults

Communicable Diseases Intelligence ◽

10.33321/cdi.2019.43.30 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

Author(s):

Amalie Dyda ◽

Surendra Karki ◽

Marlene Kong ◽

Heather F Gidding ◽

John M Kaldor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Torres Strait Islander ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

P Value ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Medical Risk ◽

Torres Strait

Background: There is limited information on vaccination coverage and characteristics associated with vaccine uptake in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adults. We aimed to provide more current estimates of influenza vaccination coverage in Aboriginal adults. Methods: Self-reported vaccination status (n=559 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander participants, n=80,655 non-Indigenous participants) from the 45 and Up Study, a large cohort of adults aged 45 years or older, was used to compare influenza vaccination coverage in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adults with coverage in non-Indigenous adults. Results: Of Aboriginal and non-Indigenous respondents aged 49 to <65 years, age-standardised influenza coverage was respectively 45.2% (95% CI 39.5–50.9%) and 38.5%, (37.9–39.0%), p-value for heterogeneity=0.02. Coverage for Aboriginal and non-Indigenous respondents aged ≥65 years was respectively 67.3% (59.9–74.7%) and 72.6% (72.2–73.0%), p-heterogeneity=0.16. Among Aboriginal adults, coverage was higher in obese than in healthy weight participants (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.38, 95%CI 1.44–3.94); in those aged <65 years with a medical risk factor than in those without medical risk factors (aOR=2.13, 1.37–3.30); and in those who rated their health as fair/poor compared to those who rated it excellent (aOR=2.57, 1.26–5.20). Similar associations were found among non-Indigenous adults. Conclusions: In this sample of adults ≥65 years, self-reported influenza vaccine coverage was not significantly different between Aboriginal and non-Indigenous adults whereas in those <65 years, coverage was higher among Aboriginal adults. Overall, coverage in the whole cohort was suboptimal. If these findings are replicated in other samples and in the Australian Immunisation Register, it suggests that measures to improve uptake, such as communication about the importance of influenza vaccine and more effective reminder systems, are needed among adults.

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COVID-19 Infection and Previous BCG Vaccination Coverage in the Ecuadorian Population

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9020091 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 91

Author(s):

Daniel Garzon-Chavez ◽

Jackson Rivas-Condo ◽

Adriana Echeverria ◽

Jhoanna Mozo ◽

Emmanuelle Quentin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

National Level ◽

Kendall Test ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Bcg Vaccination ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Health Organization ◽

Low Coverage ◽

Homologous Amino Acid

The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is a well-known vaccine with almost a century of use, with the apparent capability to improve cytokine production and epigenetics changes that could develop a better response to pathogens. It has been postulated that BCG protection against SARS-CoV-2 has a potential role in the pandemic, through the presence of homologous amino acid sequences. To identify a possible link between BCG vaccination coverage and COVID-19 cases, we used official epidemic data and Ecuadorian Ministry of Health and Pan American Health Organization vaccination information. BCG information before 1979 was available only at a national level. Therefore, projections based on the last 20 years were performed, to compare by specific geographic units. We used a Mann–Kendall test to identify BCG coverage variations, and mapping was conducted with a free geographic information system (QGIS). Nine provinces where BCG vaccine coverage was lower than 74.25% show a significant statistical association (χ2 Pearson’s = 4.800, df = 1, p = 0.028), with a higher prevalence of cases for people aged 50 to 64 years than in younger people aged 20 to 49 years. Despite the availability of BCG vaccination data and the mathematical models needed to compare these data with COVID-19 cases, our results show that, in geographic areas where BCG coverage was low, 50% presented a high prevalence of COVID-19 cases that were young; thus, low-coverage years were more affected.

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Testicular Size And Catch-Up Growth After Lymphatic-Sparing And Lymphatic Non-Sparing Varicocele Repair In Children And Adolescents

Journal of Pediatric Urology ◽

10.1016/j.jpurol.2009.02.144 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. S81

Author(s):

Radim KOCVARA ◽

Josef SEDLACEK ◽

Zdenek DITE ◽

Jaroslav MOLCAN ◽

Jan DVORACEK

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Testicular Size ◽

Catch Up ◽

Varicocele Repair

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An inventory of vascular plants endemic to Italy

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.168.1.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 168 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

LORENZO PERUZZI ◽

FABIO CONTI ◽

FABRIZIO BARTOLUCCI

Keyword(s):

Geographical Distribution ◽

Endemic Species ◽

Vascular Plants ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Alpine Region ◽

Regional Level ◽

Vascular Flora ◽

Administrative Region ◽

Italian Flora ◽

Endemic Flora

For the purpose of the present study we considered as Italian endemics those specific and subspecific taxa occurring in Italy that are not found elsewhere with the exception of Corsica (France) and Malta. This study presents an updated list of the endemic taxa in the Italian flora, including their geographical distribution at regional level. Italy is characterized by 1371 endemic species and subspecies (18.9% of the total vascular flora): three taxa belong to Lycopodiidae, one to Polypodiidae, two to Pinidae and 1365 to Magnoliidae (three paleoherbs, 221 monocots and 1144 eudicots). The endemic flora belongs to 29 orders, 67 families and 304 genera. Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria and Abruzzo are the four regions richest in endemics. About 58% of endemics are confined to a single administrative region. The most represented orders, families and genera are: Asterales, Caryophyllales and Asparagales, Asteraceae, Plumbaginaceae and Caryophyllaceae, Limonium, Centaurea and Hieracium, respectively. The phytogeographic isolation of Sardinia and Sicily and the separation of peninsular Italy from Northern Italy is confirmed. The relative isolation of Puglia with respect the remaining southern Italian pensinsular regions is also confirmed. Alpine region endemics (from northern Italy) are underrepresented.

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Vaccine Coverage Across the Life Course in Michigan During the COVID-19 Pandemic: January–September 2020

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2021.306474 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e1-e9

Author(s):

Angela K. Shen ◽

Cristi A. Bramer ◽

Lynsey M. Kimmins ◽

Robert Swanson ◽

Patricia Vranesich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Course ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Childhood Vaccination ◽

Local Health ◽

Immunization Registry ◽

Immunization Services ◽

Vaccines For Children ◽

The Life Course ◽

The Impact

Objectives. To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization services across the life course. Methods. In this retrospective study, we used Michigan immunization registry data from 2018 through September 2020 to assess the number of vaccine doses administered, number of sites providing immunization services to the Vaccines for Children population, provider location types that administer adult vaccines, and vaccination coverage for children. Results. Of 12 004 384 individual vaccine doses assessed, 48.6%, 15.6%, and 35.8% were administered to children (aged 0–8 years), adolescents (aged 9–18 years), and adults (aged 19–105 years), respectively. Doses administered overall decreased beginning in February 2020, with peak declines observed in April 2020 (63.3%). Overall decreases in adult doses were observed in all settings except obstetrics and gynecology provider offices and pharmacies. Local health departments reported a 66.4% decrease in doses reported. For children, the total number of sites administering pediatric vaccines decreased while childhood vaccination coverage decreased 4.4% overall and 5.8% in Medicaid-enrolled children. Conclusions. The critical challenge is to return to prepandemic levels of vaccine doses administered as well as to catch up individuals for vaccinations missed. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 7, 2021: e1–e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306474 )

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Meningococcal disease epidemiology in Australia 10 years after implementation of a national conjugate meningococcal C immunization programme

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268816000704 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 144 (11) ◽

pp. 2382-2391 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

G. L. LAWRENCE ◽

H. WANG ◽

M. LAHRA ◽

R. BOOY ◽

P. B. McINTYRE

Keyword(s):

Disease Surveillance ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Age Groups ◽

Disease Epidemiology ◽

Immunization Programme ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Incidence And Mortality ◽

Catch Up ◽

Vaccine Failures

SUMMARYAustralia implemented conjugate meningococcal C immunization in 2003 with a single scheduled dose at age 12 months and catch-up for individuals aged 2–19 years. Several countries have recently added one or more booster doses to their programmes to maintain disease control. Australian disease surveillance and vaccine coverage data were used to assess longer term vaccine coverage and impact on invasive serogroup C disease incidence and mortality, and review vaccine failures. Coverage was 93% in 1-year-olds and 70% for catch-up cohorts. In 10 years, after adjusting for changes in diagnostic practices, population invasive serogroup C incidence declined 96% (95% confidence interval 94–98) to 0·4 and 0·6 cases/million in vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts, respectively. Only three serogroup C deaths occurred in 2010–2012vs.68 in 2000–2002. Four (<1/million doses) confirmed vaccine failures were identified in 10 years with no increasing trend. Despite published evidence of waning antibody over time, an ongoing single dose of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine in the second year of life following widespread catch-up has resulted in near elimination of serogroup C disease in all age groups without evidence of vaccine failures in the first decade since introduction. Concurrently, serogroup B incidence declined independently by 55%.

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Perspectives on the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination among Somali Mothers in Stockholm

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15112428 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 2428 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Asha Jama ◽

Mona Ali ◽

Ann Lindstrand ◽

Robb Butler ◽

Asli Kulane

Keyword(s):

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Vaccine Safety ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Mmr Vaccine ◽

Rubella Vaccination ◽

Depth Interviews

Background: Vaccination hesitancy and skepticism among parents hinders progress in achieving full vaccination coverage. Swedish measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage is high however some areas with low vaccination coverage risk outbreaks. This study aimed to explore factors influencing the decision of Somali parents living in the Rinkeby and Tensta districts of Stockholm, Sweden, on whether or not to vaccinate their children with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Method: Participants were 13 mothers of at least one child aged 18 months to 5 years, who were recruited using snowball sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted in Somali and Swedish languages and the data generated was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Both written and verbal informed consent were obtained from participants. Results: Seven of the mothers had not vaccinated their youngest child at the time of the study and decided to postpone the vaccination until their child became older (delayers). The other six mothers had vaccinated their child for MMR at the appointed time (timely vaccinators). The analysis of the data revealed two main themes: (1) barriers to vaccinate on time, included issues surrounding fear of the child not speaking and unpleasant encounters with nurses and (2) facilitating factors to vaccinate on time, included heeding vaccinating parents’ advice, trust in nurses and trust in God. The mothers who had vaccinated their children had a positive impact in influencing other mothers to also vaccinate. Conclusions: Fear, based on the perceived risk that vaccination will lead to autism, among Somali mothers in Tensta and Rinkeby is evident and influenced by the opinions of friends and relatives. Child Healthcare Center nurses are important in the decision-making process regarding acceptance of MMR vaccination. There is a need to address mothers’ concerns regarding vaccine safety while improving the approach of nurses as they address these concerns.

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Projected resurgence of COVID-19 in the United States in July-December 2021 resulting from the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant and faltering vaccination

10.1101/2021.08.28.21262748 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shaun Truelove ◽

Claire P. Smith ◽

Michelle Qin ◽

Luke C. Mullany ◽

Rebecca K. Borchering ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Public Health Practice ◽

The United States ◽

Social Contacts ◽

Vaccination Uptake ◽

The Us ◽

Novel Variant ◽

Report Data

What is already known about this topic? The highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant has begun to cause increases in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in parts of the United States. With slowed vaccination uptake, this novel variant is expected to increase the risk of pandemic resurgence in the US in July-December 2021. What is added by this report? Data from nine mechanistic models project substantial resurgences of COVID-19 across the US resulting from the more transmissible Delta variant. These resurgences, which have now been observed in most states, were projected to occur across most of the US, coinciding with school and business reopening. Reaching higher vaccine coverage in July-December 2021 reduces the size and duration of the projected resurgence substantially. The expected impact of the outbreak is largely concentrated in a subset of states with lower vaccination coverage. What are the implications for public health practice? Renewed efforts to increase vaccination uptake are critical to limiting transmission and disease, particularly in states with lower current vaccination coverage. Reaching higher vaccination goals in the coming months can potentially avert 1.5 million cases and 21,000 deaths and improve the ability to safely resume social contacts, and educational and business activities. Continued or renewed non-pharmaceutical interventions, including masking, can also help limit transmission, particularly as schools and businesses reopen.

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