Acceptance of yellow fever vaccine in the older traveller: a cohort study: Yellow fever vaccination in elderly: adherence and challenges

Acceptance of yellow fever vaccine in the older traveller: a cohort study

Yellow fever vaccination in elderly: adherence and challenges

Authors

  • Pietro Ferrara University of Milan - Bicocca
  • Cristina Masuet-Aumatell University Hospital of Bellvitge
  • Josep Maria Ramon-Torrell University Hospital of Bellvitge

Keywords:

adherence; older traveller; yellow fever vaccine; safety

Abstract

Background and aim: Current demographic changes and improvement of quality of life of elderly population have direct consequences on international travelling. The older traveller demands for specific care and precautions to be observed, as for the yellow fever (YF) vaccination, due to the increased incidence rate of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in people aged 60 years or over. The aim of our study was to determine the adherence to YF vaccine and travel behaviours in a sample of elderly travellers moving to YF endemic areas.

Methods: Participants in this cohort study were offered YF vaccine, and informed about the increased risk of AEFIs and the unavoidable risk of acquiring YF at the destination. The research was planned on survey-based design, using pre- and post-travel questionnaires.

Results: In 2018, 239 travellers aged 60 years or older attended our travel clinic, of whom 36.8% (n = 88) planned to travel to YF endemic areas and 23.0% (n = 55) for the first time. Of these, 63.6% accepted and 36.4% rejected the vaccination, with 15 travellers moving to endemic areas without immunization, including one patient who presented contraindications to YF vaccine.

Conclusions: The presence of more than a third of elderly travellers who travelled without vaccination is a substantial public health problem and, since the number of older travellers continues to increase, it becomes necessary to implement robust actions to improve YF vaccine advocacy and adherence.

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Published

02-09-2021

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ORIGINAL ARTICLES

How to Cite

1.
Ferrara P, Masuet-Aumatell C, Ramon-Torrell JM. Acceptance of yellow fever vaccine in the older traveller: a cohort study: Yellow fever vaccination in elderly: adherence and challenges. Acta Biomed. 2021;92(4):e2021098. doi:10.23750/abm.v92i4.11619