Vaccine Coverage in Children Younger Than 1 Year of Age during Periods of High Epidemiological Risk: Are We Preparing for New Outbreaks?

Herdea, Valeria; Ghionaru, Raluca; Lungu, Claudiu N.; Leibovitz, Eugene; Diaconescu, Smaranda

doi:10.3390/children9091334

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Many factors were described as able to shape the PWs attitude regarding immunization during pregnancy: lack of knowledge regarding the risk of infectious diseases, lack of a national awareness programme for PWs, lack of adequate counselling from the physicians’ teams who take care of the pregnancy, fear of a vaccines’ composition, fake news or vaccine safety issues. International data show variable uptake rates (between 0–78%) for anti-pertussis vaccination in PWs [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 44 , 45 , 46 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite much controversy around the subject of PWs immunization, the large majority of the medical staff counsels PWs in a pro-immunization manner. We must admit that a small part of healthcare professionals, maybe not involved directly in the immunization process, may show a hesitant attitude regarding PWs vaccination [ 45 , 46 , 49 ]. Not all specialties’ curricula include immunization classes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to mention that a severe decline in vaccine coverage was registered for all types of vaccines for PWs and infants during the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly related to the pandemic restrictive rules, inconstant vaccine supplies, fear of parents regarding COVID-19 disease and fake news regarding vaccines side effects [ 45 , 53 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Sensitive Public Health Issue—The Vaccine Acceptancy and the Anti-Pertussis Immune Status of Pregnant Women from a Romanian Metropolitan Area

et al. 2023

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(1) Background: Immunization of pregnant women (PWs) against Bordetella pertussis infection is still a challenging health matter. (2) Methods: We gathered questionnaire data from 180 PWs regarding their expectancies and current opinion on infectious disease prevention. For the group of PWs who agreed to further investigations, the serum levels of Ig G anti-B. pertussis antibodies (IgG-PT) titer were measured and analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 180 PWs completed the questionnaire and 98 (54.44%, study group) accepted to perform the laboratory tests. During the first two pregnancy trimesters, PWs were found to be more willing (compared with the control group) to test for identifying high-risk situations that could affect themselves and their future infant (p < 0.001). Most of the participating PWs (91, 91.9%) had low levels of anti-pertussis antibodies (values < 40 IU/mL). Declared vaccine coverage of the PWs newborn infants for DTaP-1 and Prevenar 13 (at 2 months) and DTaP-2 and Prevenar 13 (at 4 months) vaccination reached 100% in the study group, while in the control group only 30/82 (36.59%) PWs accepted to be vaccinated during pregnancy, none of them providing data on their infants’ vaccine coverage. (4) Conclusions: Enrolled PWs faced a waning immunity against the B. pertussis infection. By raising maternal confidence in the protective role of vaccines against infectious diseases, better vaccine acceptance and better infant vaccine coverage can be achieved.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Sensitive Public Health Issue—The Vaccine Acceptancy and the Anti-Pertussis Immune Status of Pregnant Women from a Romanian Metropolitan Area

et al. 2023

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“…In studies conducted by Fathi et al and Mohsen et al, it was found that physicians and health staff were effective in promoting preventive behaviors [35,42]. Physicians were also identified as the most important source of information, and educational programs had an important influence on the behavior of the parents concerning treating or preventing children's diseases [43][44][45]. The study conducted by Biezen et al shows that communication between GPs and parents is therefore a vital component in reducing antibiotic prescribing in general practice [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Effects of Medical Information on Parental Self-Medication Behaviors for Children’s Health: A Comparative Analysis

Tarciuc,

Duduciuc,

Chirila

et al. 2023

Medicina

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Background and Objectives: Health professionals have voiced concerns about the danger of self-medication in times of growing use of over-the-counter medicines and, in some contexts, the unregulated selling of them. Previous research has examined the incidence of parental self-medication as well as the use and abuse of antibiotics without medical advice. However, these studies have limited evidence on the role of family doctors and the perceived severity of self-medication in the case of parents. Based on the Health Belief Model, our research tested the effects of exposure to medical information on the parents’ attitudes toward self-treating their children, without medical advice. Specifically, we aimed to assess whether exposure to information warning about the risks of treating children without a medical prescription influences parents’ attitudes toward administering medicines to their children without medical advice. Materials and Methods: 210 parents engaged in the study, and were divided into two groups. One group was exposed to educational materials related to the perils of self-medication and the second one was not. All participants answered the same questionnaire and the answers were compared between the two groups. Results: The results showed that our respondents evaluated the practices of self-medication negatively (a higher score indicates a more negative evaluation), especially when it came to treating their children without medical advice (3.91 ± 1.04 for unexposed and 3.98 ± 1.08 for exposed). However, their attitudes towards self-medication varied depending on their beliefs about administering certain medications. Both those exposed to the warning information and those who were not exposed have agreed that they are unable to avoid treatment of their ill child without medical advice. Conclusions: In general, our respondents evaluate negatively the practices of self-medication, especially the treatment of their children without medical advice. Therefore, future health education campaigns need to be targeted specifically, with messages that guide how to act in particular cases depending on the medication used and the child’s condition.

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“…When comparing the vaccine coverage during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) with the vaccination coverage during the 2019 measles epidemic, a significant decline was observed for all vaccines included in the Romanian National Immunization Program. According to a recent study comparing the general vaccine coverage in children younger than 1 year of age from January 2019 to June 2019 (the measles epidemic) and January 2020 to June 2020 (the COVID-19 pandemic), the measles–mumps–rubella vaccine coverage for administration at the age of 12 months was 64.29% in 2019 vs 55.88% in 2020, and for the diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis vaccine, it was 71.59% in 2019 vs 62.08% in 2020 [ 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccine Hesitancy Phenomenon Evolution during Pregnancy over High-Risk Epidemiological Periods—“Repetitio Est Mater Studiorum”

et al. 2023

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(1) Background: The recent epidemiological events were high-stress level generators for humanity, particularly for pregnant women, influencing their attitude, behavior, and decisions regarding vaccination during pregnancy or regarding their future child. The aim of this study was to analyze the anti-pertussis vaccination decision-shaping factors in pregnant women during two epidemiological periods: the measles epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Two groups of pregnant women were invited to be part of a medical education program, having as the main theme the infectious disease risks and their prevention through vaccination. Before launching the program, participants received a 12-item questionnaire. From a total number of 362 pregnant women enrolled in the study, 182 participated in 2019, and 180 participated in 2022. (3) Results: The socio-demographic data revealed that the age of pregnant women participating in medical education programs increased in 2022 by 1.7 years (p < 0.01). In vitro fertilization was reported in a significantly higher proportion (20% in 2022 vs 9.8% in 2019, p < 0.01). Participation in community-initiated educational programs almost doubled during the pandemic time from 18.7% in 2019 to 33.9% in 2022 (p < 0.01). Pertussis vaccine acceptancy (VA) dropped from 85% in 2019 to 44.4% in 2022 (p < 0.01) (4) Conclusions: In this study, we reported fast-growing vaccine hesitancy and severe declared vaccine reluctance. The results of this complex long-term study, which evaluated pregnant women over several years, showed a five-fold increase in the percentage of pregnant women who disagreed with personal pertussis vaccination. This draws attention to the risks of pertussis epidemic outbreaks in pregnant women and their future infants in the first couple of months of life before the initiation of vaccination.

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Vaccine Coverage in Children Younger Than 1 Year of Age during Periods of High Epidemiological Risk: Are We Preparing for New Outbreaks?

Cited by 6 publications

References 18 publications

A Sensitive Public Health Issue—The Vaccine Acceptancy and the Anti-Pertussis Immune Status of Pregnant Women from a Romanian Metropolitan Area

A Sensitive Public Health Issue—The Vaccine Acceptancy and the Anti-Pertussis Immune Status of Pregnant Women from a Romanian Metropolitan Area

Assessing the Effects of Medical Information on Parental Self-Medication Behaviors for Children’s Health: A Comparative Analysis

Vaccine Hesitancy Phenomenon Evolution during Pregnancy over High-Risk Epidemiological Periods—“Repetitio Est Mater Studiorum”

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