Vaccine hesitancy in COVID-19 times. An update from Italy before flu season starts

Vaccine hesitancy in COVID-19 times. An update from Italy before flu season starts

Authors

  • Anna Odone School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
  • Daria Bucci School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
  • Roberto Croci School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
  • Matteo Riccò University of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Paola Affanni AUSL Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
  • Carlo Signorelli School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; University of Parma, Parma, Italy

Keywords:

Influenza, COVID-19, coverage rates, mandatory, vaccination, Italy

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and response caused a worrying decline in vaccine uptake around the world. In Italy, the immunization coverage targets set in the 2017-19 National Immunization Prevention Plan (PNPV) have been met only partially. The current public health emergency is likely to have negatively impacted on immunization , with the risk of re-occurrence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs) outbreaks. As flu season approaches, both National Health Institutions  and the scientific community in Italy have taken action. Well in advance as compared to previous years, the Ministry of Health released  the Circular to launch the 2020-2021 influenza immunization campaign which this year is longer (starting on October 2020) and extends flu vaccine recommendations to more  “at risk” subgroups, offered the vaccine free of charge. In addition, some Italian Regions have recently tried to make  flu vaccination compulsory for all Healthcare Workers (HCWs). Since 2017, when the law on childhood vaccination in Italy was passed, compulsory vaccination has proved to be a successful strategy towards coverage increase.

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Published

07-09-2020

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REVIEWS/FOCUS ON - SPECIAL COVID19

How to Cite

1.
Odone A, Bucci D, Croci R, Riccò M, Affanni P, Signorelli C. Vaccine hesitancy in COVID-19 times. An update from Italy before flu season starts. Acta Biomed [Internet]. 2020 Sep. 7 [cited 2024 Oct. 7];91(3):e2020031. Available from: https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/10549