Influenza Vaccination Campaign during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of a Research and Teaching Hospital in Milan

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, optimal influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) is crucial to avoid absenteeism and disruption of health services, as well as in-hospital influenza outbreaks. The aim of this study is to analyze the 2020 influenza vaccination campaign, comparing it with the previous year’s in a research and teaching hospital in Northern Italy. Methods: adopting an approach based on combined strategies, three interventions were deployed: a promotional and educational campaign, vaccination delivery through both ad hoc and on-site ambulatories, and a gaming strategy. Personal data and professional categories were collected and analyzed using univariate logistic regression. Vaccinated HCWs were asked to fill in a questionnaire to describe their reasons for vaccination adherence. Results: the vaccination coverage rate (VCR) was 43.1%, compared to 21.5% in 2019. The highest increase was registered among administrative staff (308.3%), while physicians represent the most vaccinated category (n = 600). Moreover, residents (prevalence ratio (PR): 1.12; 95% CI 1.04–1.20), as well as intensive care (PR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.24–1.69) and newborn workers (PR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.20–1.65) were, respectively, the categories most frequently vaccinated for the first time. Conclusion: the significant increase in vaccination coverage rate confirms the suitability of the combined strategy of delivering the flu vaccination campaign and represents a first step towards reaching WHO recommended vaccination rates.

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2019 Influenza Vaccination Campaign in an Italian Research and Teaching Hospital: Analysis of the Reasons for Its Failure

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17113881 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 3881 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Manuel Maffeo ◽

Ester Luconi ◽

Ambra Castrofino ◽

Emanuela Maria Campagnoli ◽

Andrea Cinnirella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Teaching Hospital ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Personal Data ◽

Vaccination Strategy ◽

Coverage Rate ◽

Vaccination Coverage Rate ◽

Research And Teaching ◽

First Time

Background: Despite recommendations, the influenza vaccination coverage rate in healthcare workers (HCWs) in Italy is far from the recommended target. The aim of the study is to analyze the influenza vaccination campaign performed in 2019 in a research and teaching hospital in Milan. Methods: The vaccination strategy included an ad hoc ambulatory, as in the previous years, and an onsite ambulatory, introduced for the first time. Personal data and professional categories were collected and analyzed using univariate logistic regression. HCWs who refused the vaccination were asked to fill in a questionnaire to explain their reasons for dissent. Results: The achieved vaccination coverage rate (VCR) for HCWs was 21.5 %, compared to 17.1% in 2018. The lowest VCR was registered among nurses (11.9%), while physicians had the highest VCR (40.7%). Prevalence ratios show that some professional categories were more frequently vaccinated for the first time than attending physicians (reference category); those with statistically significant confidence intervals were nurses (PR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.78–3.28), residents (PR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.36–2.53), and auxiliary staff (PR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.45–3.74). Conclusions: An onsite vaccination strategy failed in providing a remarkable increase in VCR in 2019, but it is important to point out that the campaign was influenced by several logistic problems.

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Relationship between Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rate and COVID-19 Outbreak: An Italian Ecological Study

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines8030535 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 535 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mauro Amato ◽

José Pablo Werba ◽

Beatrice Frigerio ◽

Daniela Coggi ◽

Daniela Sansaro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Intensive Care Units ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Coverage Rate ◽

Italian Population ◽

Vaccination Coverage Rate ◽

Multivariable Analyses ◽

Coverage Rates

Background: The lack of specific vaccines or drugs against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) warrants studies focusing on alternative clinical approaches to reduce the spread of this pandemic disease. In this study, we investigated whether anti-influenza vaccination plays a role in minimizing the diffusion of COVID-19 in the Italian population aged 65 and over. Methods: Four COVID-19 outcomes were used: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence, hospitalizations for COVID-19 symptoms, admissions to intensive care units for reasons related to SARS-CoV-2, and deaths attributable to COVID-19. Results: At univariate analyses, the influenza vaccination coverage rates correlated negatively with all COVID-19 outcomes (Beta ranging from −134 to −0.61; all p < 0.01). At multivariable analyses, influenza vaccination coverage rates correlated independently with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence (Beta (95% C.I.): −130 (−198, −62); p = 0.001), hospitalizations for COVID-19 symptoms (Beta (95% C.I.): −4.16 (−6.27, −2.05); p = 0.001), admission to intensive care units for reasons related to SARS-CoV-2 (Beta (95% C.I.): −0.58 (−1.05, −0.12); p = 0.017), and number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 (Beta (95% C.I.): −3.29 (−5.66, −0.93); p = 0.010). The R2 observed in the unadjusted analysis increased from 82% to 159% for all the considered outcomes after multivariable analyses. Conclusions: In the Italian population, the coverage rate of the influenza vaccination in people aged 65 and over is associated with a reduced spread and a less severe clinical expression of COVID-19. This finding warrants ad hoc studies to investigate the role of influenza vaccination in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

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Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rate for Medical Staff: Influence of Hospital-Based Vaccination Campaign

Respirology - Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ◽

10.1007/5584_2015_197 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 31-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T. M. Zielonka ◽

M. Szymańczak ◽

J. Jakubiak ◽

A. Nitsch-Osuch ◽

K. Życińska

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Medical Staff ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Coverage Rate ◽

Vaccination Coverage Rate

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The Association between Smoking Status and Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rate in Korean Adults: Analysis of the 2010–2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Korean Journal of Family Medicine ◽

10.4082/kjfm.2018.39.2.90 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 90 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jung Keun Park ◽

Soo Lee ◽

Ji Eun Lee ◽

Kyung-Do Han ◽

Ji Hyun Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

National Health ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Coverage Rate ◽

Nutrition Examination Survey ◽

Vaccination Coverage Rate ◽

Korean Adults ◽

Health And Nutrition

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Flu vaccination coverage in a large Italian teaching hospital: the example of the leaders

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.630 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

M Di Pumpo ◽

A Barbara ◽

D I La Milia ◽

A Tamburrano ◽

D Vallone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Teaching Hospital ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Vaccination Rate ◽

Coverage Rate ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Vaccination Coverage Rate ◽

Flu Vaccination ◽

Frail Patients

Abstract Annual flu vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) is recommended to prevent influenza and to avoid its transmission especially to frail patients. In our teaching hospital, flu vaccination rate among HCWs has been growing during last 3 years. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the flu vaccination coverage across the past 3 years and to analyze which factors lead to such increase. We performed a cross-sectional study on all HCWs of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” (FPG) hospital of Rome (Italy) to determine the flu vaccination coverage. Socio-demographic and occupational data were collected from hospital personnel records and included age, gender, previous flu vaccination, profession and workplace unit. On site vaccination plus academic detailing involving leaders have been the main strategies adopted in this last 3 years that have already proved to be effective in increasing vaccination coverage among HCWs. During the 2018-2019 season, we analyzed how the flu vaccination coverage among leaders (nurse coordinators and head physicians) could affect all HCWs coverage rate. Flu vaccination rate increased from 9.57% in the 2016-17 to 14.24% in the 2017-18 and to 22.38% in 2018-2019. A total of 4035 HCWs employed in the FPG were included in 2018-19. Concerning the role played by vaccination of leaders in increasing general vaccination coverage during the 2018-2019, the group of HCWs with a vaccinated leader showed a higher coverage rate (28.65%) than the group with a non-vaccinated leader (16.22%) (p < 0.0001). The results are preliminary. Flu vaccination coverage of HCWs in our hospital during the last 3 years has been increasingly higher. Vaccination of the leaders, in addition to previously implemented effective strategies, resulted to be a key factor in increasing flu vaccination coverage among all HCWs. Socio-demographic and occupational variables can significantly influence the coverage rate as well. Key messages Annual flu vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) is recommended to prevent influenza and to avoid its transmission especially to frail patients. This study shows the growing flu vaccination coverage rate in our teaching hospital and the effectiveness of the example given by the vaccinated leaders in increasing the coverage among all HCWs.

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