ABSTRACT
The Herpes Zoster (HZ) vaccination has proven both safe and effective in alleviating conditions related to HZ, leading to significant cost savings in national healthcare and social systems. In Italy, it is recommended and provided free of charge to individuals aged 65 and older. To achieve broad vaccination coverage, alongside ordinary immunization campaigns, active and catch-up campaigns were implemented. This retrospective observational study aimed to observe the vaccination coverage achieved in the Romagna Local Health Authority (LHA) during the 2023 active campaign, with a secondary goal of assessing the impact of the 2022 catch-up campaign and the 2023 active campaign compared to ordinary campaigns. As of 3 July 2023, an overall vaccine uptake of 13.5% was achieved among individuals born in 1958, with variations among the four LHA centers ranging from 10.2% to 17.7%. Catch-up and active campaigns together contributed to nearly half of the achieved coverage in Center No. 1 and a quarter in Center No. 2. Notably, individuals born in 1957, not included in the Center No. 2 catch-up campaign, reached significantly lower vaccination coverage compared to other cohorts and centers. Analyzing the use of text messages for active campaigns, it was observed that cohort groups did not show substantial differences in text-message utilization for warnings. However, having relatives who had experienced HZ-related symptoms significantly reduced the reliance on text messages as warnings. These results highlighted how catch-up and active campaigns effectively increased vaccine coverage. Nevertheless, differences in uptake among different centers within the same LHA and the limited contribution of other information sources compared to text messages suggest the necessity of designing campaigns involving all available channels and stakeholders to maximize vaccine uptake.
ABSTRACT
Herpes Zoster (shingles) is an infection that occurs when varicella-zoster virus reactivates from the latent state. Incidence and severity of Herpes Zoster disease increase with age. Antiviral drugs are the elective treatment; however, prevention of disease reactivation through effective and safe vaccines is available in Italy out-of-pocket from age 65 onwards. The Romagna Local Health Authority (northern Italy) administered catch-up vaccinations in March-May 2022 for immunizations not performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, adherence rates to the catch-up campaign and recall activities adopted in two centers were investigated. The uptakes for only the catch-up vaccinations were 11.4% and 12.4%. Having suffered from Herpes Zoster or having family members who suffered from it would not seem to be drivers of increased uptake. Although sending text-messages to all involved patients was the main motivation for vaccine uptake (85.7-95.1%), word of mouth and web/news advertising also contributed to adoption in Center No. 2. In both centers, the need for greater synergy between public health departments and general practitioners to engage their patients emerged, as did the need for additional recall measures. Studying the main drivers of vaccine hesitancy, especially at the local level, can help in targeting campaigns and catch-up activities in order to achieve widespread acceptance.
ABSTRACT
Tobacco smoke is the main cause of preventable death in Italy. It is important therefore to develop evidence-based measures aimed at preventing and treating tobacco addiction. This article describes the "Smoke-free" community project, implemented in the territory of the Cesena Local Health Authority. The success of the project shows that it is possible to carry out inter-sectorial and evidence-based prevention. It also leads to considerations about the role of Prevention Services in the fight against tobacco smoke.
