How has COVID-19 pandemic changed flu vaccination attitudes among an Italian cancer center healthcare workers?

A retrospective study was conducted among Italian cancer healthcare workers (HCWs) to describe how influenza vaccination attitudes have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis was conducted on the last three influenza seasons (2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21). To account for different relationships and proximity with patients, the study population was grouped into three main professional categories: health personnel, administrative staff and technicians. Moreover, to explore the factors affecting the coverage of influenza vaccine, a multinomial regression analysis was performed.Over the years, the influenza vaccination uptake showed a gradual increase across the overall staff, the highest coverage (53.8%) was observed in the season 2020/21, in particular, for health personnel (57.7%). In general, males resulted in more adherent to vaccination campaigns; nevertheless, this gap decreased in the last season. A total of 28.6% workers were always vaccinated throughout the past three seasons, a remarkable 25.2% (mainly young and females) received for the first time the influenza vaccination in 2020/21.In this dramatic health crisis, the attitudes of HCWs toward flu vaccination have changed. The COVID-19 outbreak increased adherence to flu vaccination, reaching the highest coverage in the campaign 2020/21. However, further efforts should be made to achieve greater vaccination coverage.

Radiology imaging management in an Italian cancer center (IRST IRCCS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Italy, the first case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was officially reported on 20.02.2020. The disease has since rapidly evolved, causing a public health emergency throughout the country but especially in our region, one of the most widely affected areas. We reorganized the daily routine of our cancer center to reduce the risk of contagion. A temporary tensile structure was set up as an entry-point triage, and a COVID-19 route was created with a dedicated CT scanner. A pre-access telephonic triage was performed the day before a patient was scheduled to come in for an examination. At the time of writing (May 4), 4053 patients had been to our center since the emergency officially began (9.03.2020) and the COVID-19 route had been activated for only 9 paucisymptomatic outpatients and 7 symptomatic inpatients. We also re-evaluated patient radiology examination lists and rescheduled non-urgent tests in consensus with the referring oncologist. Out of a total of 1438 patients scheduled for radiological examinations, 456 were postponed for a total volume reduction of 29.1%. Nine asymptomatic patients with typical CT findings of COVID-19 were identified during routine CTs, but none were RT-PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2. We guaranteed all urgent and semi-urgent examinations, including those to stage newly diagnosed cancers and to evaluate response to treatment, ensuring the continuation of the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway of our patients. The measures we took were instrumental in keeping the institute COVID-19-free. We also describe the planned measures to resume normal clinical practice at the center.