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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Vaccination coverage in healthcare workers: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Italy

Genovese C.Picerno I. A. M.Trimarchi G.Cannavo G.Egitto G.Cosenza B.Merlina V.Icardi G.Panatto D.Amicizia D.Orsi A.Colosio C.Marsili C.Lari C.Palamara M. A. R.Vitale F.Casuccio A.Costantino C.Azara A.Castiglia P.Bianco A.Curra A.Gabutti G.Stefanati A.Sandri F.Florescu C.Marranzano M.Giorgianni G.Fiore V.Platania A.Torre I.Cappuccio A.Guillari A.Fabiani L.Giuliani A. R.Appetiti A.La Fauci V.Squeri A.Ragusa R.Squeri R.

subject

AdultMale0303 health sciencesVaccines030306 microbiologyHealth PersonneleducationNursesMiddle AgedInfectious Disease Transmission Professional-to-PatientNO03 medical and health sciencesHealthcare workers; Vaccination coverage; VaccinesCross-Sectional StudiesHealthcare workers Vaccination coverage VaccinesItalyPhysiciansHealthcare workerHumansHealthcare workersOriginal ArticleFemaleVaccination coverage

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Introduction In recent years, a phenomenon known as "vaccine hesitancy" has spread throughout the world, even among health workers, determining a reduction in vaccination coverage (VC). A study aimed at evaluating VC among healthcare workers (HCWs) in 10 Italian cities (L'Aquila, Genoa, Milan, Palermo, Sassari, Catanzaro, Ferrara, Catania, Naples, Messina) was performed. Materials and methods Annex 3 of the Presidential Decree n. 445 of 28 December 2000 was used to collect information on the vaccination status of HCWs. The mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated with regard to the quantitative variable (age), while absolute and relative frequencies were obtained for categorical data (sex, professional profile, working sector, vaccination status). The connection between VC and the categorical variables was evaluated by chi-square method (statistical significance at p<0.05). The statistical analyses were performed by SPSS and Stata software. Results A total of 3,454 HCWs participated in the project: 1,236 males and 2,218 females. The sample comprised: physicians (26.9%), trainee physicians (16.1%), nurses (17.2%) and other professional categories (9.8%). Low VC was generally recorded. Higher VC was found with regard to polio, hepatitis B, tetanus and diphtheria, while coverage was very low for measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, chickenpox and influenza (20-30%). Conclusions This study revealed low VC rates among HCWs for all the vaccinations. Measures to increase VC are therefore necessary in order to prevent HCWs from becoming a source of transmission of infections with high morbidity and/or mortality both within hospitals and outside.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2019-03-01
10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2019.60.1.1097http://hdl.handle.net/11697/137899