Increased adherence to influenza vaccination among Palermo family pediatricians: a study on safety and compliance of qLAIV vaccination.
Claudio Costantino, Fabio Tramuto, Nicole Bonaccorso, Maria Carmela Lo Giudice, Francesco Balsamo, Alessandro Carubia, Luciano D'Azzo, Santo Fruscione, Martina Sciortino, Tania Vitello, Luigi Zagra, Alessia Pieri, Rosaria Rizzari, Gregorio Serra, Mario Palermo, Maria Angela Randazzo, Sara Palmeri, Rosario Asciutto, Giovanni Corsello, Giorgio Graziano, Carmelo Massimo Maida, Walter Mazzucco, Francesco Vitale
Author Information
Claudio Costantino: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Fabio Tramuto: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Nicole Bonaccorso: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. nicole.bonaccorso@unipa.it. ORCID
Maria Carmela Lo Giudice: Italian Federation on Family Paediatricians, Sicilian Section, Palermo, Italy.
Francesco Balsamo: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Alessandro Carubia: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Luciano D'Azzo: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Santo Fruscione: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Martina Sciortino: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Tania Vitello: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Luigi Zagra: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Alessia Pieri: Hospital Unit of Clinical Epidemiology with Cancer Registry, University Hospital "Paolo Giaccone" of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Rosaria Rizzari: Italian Federation on Family Paediatricians, Sicilian Section, Palermo, Italy.
Gregorio Serra: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Mario Palermo: Regional Health Authority of Sicily, Palermo, Italy.
Maria Angela Randazzo: Prevention and Epidemiology Unit, Palermo Local Health Authority, Palermo, Italy.
Sara Palmeri: Prevention and Epidemiology Unit, Palermo Local Health Authority, Palermo, Italy.
Rosario Asciutto: Prevention and Epidemiology Unit, Palermo Local Health Authority, Palermo, Italy.
Giovanni Corsello: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Giorgio Graziano: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Carmelo Massimo Maida: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Walter Mazzucco: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Francesco Vitale: Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
BACKGROUND: Influenza represents a serious public health threat, especially for the management of severe cases and complications of the disease, requiring the implementation of control measures. We aimed to assess the acceptance and impact of qLAIV vaccination among a representative sample of family paediatricians (FPs) operating in Palermo Local Health Authority (LHA). To this end we evaluated vaccination coverage rates, comparing it with that observed in Sicilian context, while actively monitoring possible adverse reactions and their severity. METHODS: An observational descriptive non-controlled study was conducted in two phases, from September 2022 to June 2023. The first phase involved a formative and educational intervention with a pre-intervention questionnaire to assess the knowledge and attitudes of FPs on paediatric influenza vaccination. The second phase consisted of an active surveillance on qLAIV safety and acceptance among the paediatric population assisted by the participating FPs, from October 2022 to April 2023. Frequencies, chi-squared tests, and comparisons statistics were performed using Stata/MP 14.1. RESULTS: The overall coverage rate among the paediatric population involved in the intervention was 13.2%, with an I.M./qLAIV ratio of vaccine administered of 1/4.25. This coverage rate was significantly higher (p-value <0.001) when compared to the average values reported in the population under the Palermo Local Health Authority (LHA) (6.7%) and in the entire Sicily (5.9%). Adverse events in the qLAIV group were mild, with only 3.3% experiencing them, primarily presenting as a feverish rise (3.2%). No severe adverse reaction was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The educational intervention significantly raised paediatric influenza vaccination rates among the participating FPs, and in general improved influenza vaccination coverage rates in the Palermo's LHU. Minimal, non-serious adverse events underscored the vaccine's safety. Training sessions ensured paediatricians stayed informed, enabling them to provide comprehensive information to parents for secure and informed vaccination decisions in their practices.
