Italian immunization calendar implementation: Time to optimize number of vaccination appointments?

In the Italian vaccination schedule, at least six vaccination appointments are scheduled in the first year of life. This implies more discomfort for both the patient and the parents. This was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which several appointments were missed. A UK experience with three injectable vaccines and an oral one co-administered at the same appointment (4-in-1) at 2 and 4 months of age showed interesting results. The vaccination coverage was high, consistent with previous practice, and no relevant increase in adverse events was reported. Translating the UK experience into the Italian context would not be immediate, due to several organizational and social issues. Nevertheless, this option warrants some further considerations, which are discussed in this manuscript.

COVID, the Gut, and Nutritional Implications

Purpose of Review The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current literature, recommendations, and practice guidelines on the nutritional management of and implications associated with COVID-19 infection. Recent Findings Particular attention should be paid to the screening, prevention, and treatment of malnutrition in critically ill individuals with COVID-19 infection given the significant risk for complications and poor outcomes. Extrapolation of existing literature for the nutritional support in the critically ill patient has demonstrated early enteral nutrition is safe and well-tolerated in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Summary Futures studies should focus on the long-term nutritional outcomes for patients who have suffered COVID-19 infection, nutritional outcomes/recommendations for special populations with COVID-19, nutritional outcomes based on the current recommendations and guidelines for nutrition therapy, and the role for micronutrient supplementation in COVID-19 infection.

COVID, the Gut, and Nutritional Implications.

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current literature, recommendations, and practice guidelines on the nutritional management of and implications associated with COVID-19 infection. Recent Findings: Particular attention should be paid to the screening, prevention, and treatment of malnutrition in critically ill individuals with COVID-19 infection given the significant risk for complications and poor outcomes. Extrapolation of existing literature for the nutritional support in the critically ill patient has demonstrated early enteral nutrition is safe and well-tolerated in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Summary: Futures studies should focus on the long-term nutritional outcomes for patients who have suffered COVID-19 infection, nutritional outcomes/recommendations for special populations with COVID-19, nutritional outcomes based on the current recommendations and guidelines for nutrition therapy, and the role for micronutrient supplementation in COVID-19 infection.

The Use of Social Media in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review on the Potential Risks.

In recent years, social media has become part of our lives, even among children. From the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic period, media device and Internet access rapidly increased. Adolescents connected Internet alone, consulting social media, mostly Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. During "lockdown", the Internet usage allowed communication with peers and the continuity activities such as school teaching. However, we have to keep in mind that media usage may be related to some adverse consequences especially in the most vulnerable people, such as the young. Aim of the review is to focus on risks correlated to social media use by children and adolescents, identifying spies of rising problems and engaging in preventive recommendations. The scoping review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines, searching on PubMed the terms "social media" or "social network", "health", and "pediatrics". Excluding articles not pertinent, we found 68 reports. Out of them, 19 were dealing with depression, 15 with diet, and 15 with psychological problems, which appeared to be the most reported risk of social media use. Other identified associated problems were sleep, addiction, anxiety, sex related issues, behavioral problems, body image, physical activity, online grooming, sight, headache, and dental caries. Public and medical awareness must rise over this topic and new prevention measures must be found, starting with health practitioners, caregivers, and websites/application developers. Pediatricians should be aware of the risks associated to a problematic social media use for the young's health and identify sentinel signs in children as well as prevent negative outcomes in accordance with the family.

COVID 19 vaccine in the pediatric age: the recommendation of the Italian Pediatric Society.

Vaccine is an important and effective tool to protect from preventable infectious diseases. Neverthless, in the COVID-19 pandemic era, scientific and accurate information are required to responde to false and misleading information on efficacy and safety of immunization in the pediatric age.

Pediatric routine vaccinations in the COVID 19 lockdown period: the survey of the Italian Pediatric Society.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for disrupting routine immunization activities all over the world. Aim of the study was to investigate the reduced adherence to the national children vaccination schedule during the lockdown period in Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through social channels, the Italian Pediatric Society conducted a survey among Italian families on children vaccination during lockdown period. RESULTS: In the study period, 1474 responders were collected. More than one third (34%) of them skipped the vaccine appointment as they were afraid of SARS-CoV-2-virus (44%), vaccination services postponed the appointment (42%) or was closed to public (13%). DISCUSSION: Reduction in routine immunization coverage may represent a serious life-threating problem for unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children. CONCLUSIONS: Information on national and local preventive measures including physical distancing, handwashing, and proper coughing/sneezing hygiene should be spread among families in order to contrast vaccine hesitancy and maintain adequate coverage levels during COVID19 pandemic period.