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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on maternal compliance to immunization for pertussis and influenza in pregnancy
Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine ; 34(SUPPL 1):93-94, 2021.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1517715
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Pertussis and influenza immunization in pregnancy is proven to be safe and effective in protecting mother and fetus. National Immunization Plan 2017-2019 recommends both as part of the free routine pregnancy care. Despite that national vaccination coverage among pregnant women is still negligible. The COVID-19 pandemic has globally challenged healthcare services including immunization. Our study evaluates if COVID-19 pandemic changed positively the attitude of pregnant women toward recommended vaccinations in pregnancy. METHODS We conducted a prospective observational study among women who delivered between June and August 2020 at the Maternity Unit of Prato. These patients experienced their first or second trimester during the 2019-2020 influenza seasonal epidemic (before COVID-19 pandemic) and their third trimester during COVID-19 pandemic and Italian lock-down. This study group represents a unique model to evaluate how the novel Coronavirus outbreak might have changed pregnant patients' attitude towards vaccination. Data were collected from a self-completed questionnaire about vaccination uptake, main motivations to be vaccinated or not, influence of COVID-19 on other immunizations. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics frequencies, percentages, and mean with standard deviations were calculated for each question. RESULTS The survey focused on 195 women who returned complete questionnaire (on 520 patients eligible). Of these 70.2% were Italian, 11.8% Chinese, 3.6% Pakistani and 14.4% of other ethnicities. 8.7% reported vaccinated against influenza and 50.8% against pertussis. Of all these 6.7% received both vaccines during pregnancy. All women vaccinated against influenza were Italian, as well as the majority (87, 88%) of those who received the Tdap vaccine. For both vaccines the main motivation to be vaccinated was the vaccine to be recommended by an healthcare provider, as well as the main motivation not to be vaccinated was the lack of this recommendation. 26.1% women stated that lockdown measures reduced their access to vaccines. Of these women, 70.6% declared they would accept to be vaccinated if the vaccine was administered during a prenatal visit/hospitalization. 95.4% women declared they planned to have their newborns vaccinated following the national schedules for immunization in childhood. DISCUSSION In our sample in the pre-COVID-19 era less than 20% of the women were recommended to get the influenza vaccine, and only 9% were actually administered it. During the COVID-19 pandemic 60% were recommended to get Tdap vaccine, and more than 50% were actually administered it. The possible explanation of this difference in vaccine uptake in the same women might be a different sensitivity of women toward infectious disease complications and measures to prevent them. Our data suggest also that vaccinations are perceived as an essential care especially if recommended by obstetrical team and services. CONCLUSIONS Awareness of infectious disease threats have changed positively the attitude of pregnant women toward vaccination. While COVID-19 cases are steadily increasing globally, it is of upmost importance to reduce the burden of other preventable viral diseases. To avoid fear of contracting COVID-19 prevent immunization, as well as to minimize patient movements and therefore SARS-CoV-2 circulation, vaccination during routine prenatal care must be organized and encouraged.

Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Type of study: Experimental Studies Language: English Journal: Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Type of study: Experimental Studies Language: English Journal: Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article