Bivalent second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine: Eligible populations' reasons for receiving in Italy.

The Italian Ministry of Health recommended the administration of the bivalent second booster dose of the new available mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for subjects aged 60 y and over, aged 12 y and over with high frailty motivated by concomitant/preexisting conditions, and health-care workers. The purposes of this cross-sectional survey were to investigate the reasons for receiving the bivalent second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and associated influencing factors among the eligible population attending two immunization centers randomly selected in the city of Naples, Italy. A total of 535 subjects participated. Only 17.5% revealed high concern about the possibility of acquiring the COVID-19 disease. Those younger, those who had at least one chronic medical condition, and those who had a higher perceived seriousness of the COVID-19 disease were more likely to be very concerned. Having a higher belief of the vaccine's safety and usefulness were significant positive predictors of the respondents' belief of the efficacy of the bivalent second booster dose. The two most common reasons reported for receiving the bivalent second booster dose included the protection for themselves and for their cohabitants. Those younger and those who had a higher perception of the vaccine's usefulness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to receive the bivalent second booster dose for the protection of their cohabitants. Health-care organizations and health-care professionals can use these findings in their efforts to design educational and communication interventions to accelerate the uptake of this vaccine for reducing the frequency of this disease.

Assessment of Perceived Health Status and Access to Health Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey in Italy.

(1) Background: The aims of this survey were to assess the perceived health status and to evaluate the use of healthcare services during the pandemic period. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to October 2021 in the Campania and Calabria regions, Southern Italy. The sample was selected among 655 subjects attending vaccination or primary care physician clinics. (3) Results: More than half (57.2%) of the respondents were female, the mean age was 49 years (range 19-97), and 61.3% had at least one chronic disease. Among the respondents, 56.3% declared that they had accessed healthcare at least once during the pandemic and, among all respondents who did not access healthcare, 23.2% gave reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two scores obtained from the Short-Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12), physical health summary (PCS) and mental health summary (MCS), had a means of 48.4 and 45.9, respectively. Among the respondents, 2.3% of respondents considered their health poor, 43.1% good and 6.4% excellent. (4) Conclusions: Our results suggest the need to ensure, in similar health emergency situations, a quick response from the National Health System so that ordinary medical assistance activities can be guaranteed in full safety, avoiding the risk of missed access or lack of assistance.

Preventive Measures for SARS-CoV-2 in the Workplace and Vaccine Acceptance: Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors of Workers in Southern Italy.

(1) Background: this study investigated the preventive measures implemented in the workplace and evaluated knowledge, attitudes and adherence behaviors regarding SARS-CoV-2 routes of transmission and preventive measures in a group of workers. (2) Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2021 among 501 workers in the Campania region, in Southern Italy. (3) Results: 80.5% of respondents declared that their company had implemented the main COVID-19 preventive measures, and 54.7% of respondents knew SARS-CoV-2 routes of transmission along with the main preventive measures. Moreover, 34.2% were highly concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace and transmitting it to family. Adherence to all preventive measures in the workplace involved 42.5% of respondents. The results of the multivariate logistic regression model revealed that significant determinants of adherence to all preventive measures in the workplace were being female, working not as a manager or office employee, cohabiting with someone that received a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, knowing SARS-CoV-2 routes of transmission and the related main preventive measures, being highly concerned of contracting SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace and transmitting it to family and believing that COVID-19 vaccine offers high protection against disease. At the time of the survey, 47.5% of respondents had already received COVID-19 vaccine. Among unvaccinated respondents, 11.8% expressed unwillingness to get vaccinated for COVID-19. (4) Conclusions: These findings highlighted a good awareness about COVID-19 prevention and underlined a good propensity to get vaccinated among workers. Therefore, there is the need that preventive measures should be prioritized in the working context.

Surveying Parents' Awareness and Adherence to Influenza Vaccination Recommendations in Children in Southern Italy.

BACKGROUND: This study explored awareness and adhesion of parents to the recommendations for influenza vaccination for their children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2022 among parents of 6 months-6 years-old children in Southern Italy. RESULTS: Only 22.1% of parents were aware that influenza vaccination was recommended for healthy children, and 31.8% reported at least one influenza vaccination in the four influenza seasons from 2018/2019 to 2021/2022. Adherence was higher among parents who had received influenza vaccination at least once, who knew the main childhood vaccinations, who knew that influenza can be prevented, that influenza vaccination is recommended for healthy children, who believe that it is useful, and who have been informed about it by physicians. Willingness to vaccinate their children in the upcoming season was 48.6% and was higher among parents who had vaccinated their children at least once, believed that influenza vaccination protects against severe complications, believed that it is useful, and that it is not better for children to acquire immunization through illness than through vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that efforts should be devoted to educating parents on the risks associated with the disease and the benefits of the vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Related Determinants in Detained Subjects in Italy.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the extent of COVID-19 vaccination coverage and investigated drivers and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people in prison. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2021 among 517 detained people in the Campania region of South Italy. RESULTS: In total, 47.1% of participants expressed a high concern about contracting COVID-19 after vaccination, whereas 60.6% and 53.8% of respondents reported a positive attitude towards usefulness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, respectively. Adherence to the active offer of COVID-19 vaccination involved 89.7% of detained subjects. COVID-19 vaccination uptake was significantly higher in females, and in those who reported influenza vaccination uptake, had received information about COVID-19 vaccination from media and newspapers, did not express need of additional information about COVID-19 vaccine, believed that COVID-19 vaccine is safe, were involved in working activities in the prison, and had a high school or university degree. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed a high self-reported COVID-19 vaccination coverage in detained subjects, supporting the effectiveness of the strategy aimed at giving priority to COVID-19 vaccinations in prisons. Further efforts are needed to contrast the hesitancy of those who refused vaccination to increase their confidence about usefulness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

Changes in Behaviors and Attitudes in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccination in Healthcare Workers and University Students in Italy.

The objectives of the cross-sectional study were to measure how behaviors and attitudes about preventive measures toward COVID-19 changed over time among Italian vaccinated healthcare workers and university students, and the associated characteristics. The study was carried out between February and March 2021 in the city of Naples, Campania region, Southern Italy. The perceived personal risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 after the vaccination was significantly higher among males, in those having a higher perceived personal risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 before the vaccination, and in those who were more concerned about the efficacy of the vaccination. The fear of getting the disease as reason to have the COVID-19 vaccination was reported more frequently in younger participants, in those with at least one chronic medical condition, in those with a higher concern about the severity of COVID-19, in those with a higher level of trust in the information received, and in those who acquired information from scientific journals. Overall, 21.3% were willing to engage the three main public health measures (wearing a mask, careful hand washing, physical distancing) after receiving the second dose of the vaccination compared to the behavior before the pandemic began. This willingness was predicted by a higher level of trust in the information received and by a lower self-rated health status. Only 0.1% of participants were willing to engage all three measures after receiving the second dose of the vaccination compared to the behavior before receiving the first dose. These findings are useful in order to develop information strategies regarding vaccine safety and efficacy and the importance of public health measures against COVID-19.

Characteristics of Healthcare Workers Vaccinated against Influenza in the Era of COVID-19.

Understanding the potential impact of COVID-19 on receiving influenza vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) is of utmost importance. The purposes of the present cross-sectional study were to describe the characteristics and to explore the predictors of receiving influenza vaccination among a large cohort of Italian HCWs in hospital settings. Information was collected through an anonymous questionnaire from December 2020 through January 2021. General and practice characteristics, perceived risk of seasonal influenza, attitudes towards efficacy and safety of influenza vaccination, and reasons behind the decision to be vaccinated against influenza were explored. Fewer than half (46.2%) of HCWs agreed that influenza is a serious illness and perceived the risk of getting infected with influenza, and concerns about the safety of the vaccination were significant positive predictors. Fewer than half of the respondents were not concerned at all about the efficacy (48.6%) and safety (49.8%) of influenza vaccination, and 51.9% reported that they have not received a seasonal influenza vaccine during the previous season. The most mentioned reason for receiving the influenza vaccine in the current season was that influenza and COVID-19 share some similar symptoms. Study results will aid policymakers in developing vaccination education programs, promotion of trust to address negative misconceptions, and to achieve future high coverage among this high-risk group.

Exploring the Willingness to Accept SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in a University Population in Southern Italy, September to November 2020.

Understanding whether members of the university population are willing to receive a future vaccination against COVID-19 and identifying barriers may help public health authorities to develop effective strategies and interventions to contain COVID-19. This cross-sectional study explored the willingness to accept a future SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a university population in Southern Italy. The perceived risk level of developing COVID-19 was 6.5 and it was significantly higher among females, younger subjects, and those who agreed/strongly agreed that COVID-19 is a severe disease. Only 21.4% of respondents were not worried at all regarding the safety of the vaccine. Males, not being married/cohabitant, being a faculty member, those who perceived a lower risk of developing COVID-19, and those who did not need information regarding the vaccination against COVID-19 were significantly more likely to have no concern at all regarding the safety of the vaccine. The vast majority (84.1%) were willing to receive a future vaccine against COVID-19. Almost coherently with predictors of concern on the safety of the vaccine, being male, not being married/cohabitant, being a faculty member, not being concerned at all that COVID-19 vaccination might not be safe, and agreeing that COVID-19 can have serious health consequences were significant predictors of the willingness to receive the vaccine against COVID-19. A considerable proportion of the population had a positive willingness to receive the future COVID-19 vaccine, although some concerns have been expressed regarding the effectiveness and safety and public health activities seem necessary to achieve the rate that can lead to the protection of the community.