Abstract
Most vaccinations are recommended within the 15th month of life, in order to reduce risks and to protect children from the initial stages of their lives. A vaccination training session was carried out during the birthing preparation course, aimed at increasing the attitude toward vaccination in maternal-child age. A questionnaire on vaccination awareness was administered before and after the training session and on-site flu vaccination was offered to women and their companions. The percentage of participants who consider the preparatory course a useful tool to obtain information about vaccines increases significantly from 30.34% at pre-intervention to 64.56% at post-intervention (p < 0.001). There is a significant increase in the mean number of vaccinations that the participants want their children to get. The number of participants believing that there is no relationship between vaccination and autism rose from 41.05 to 72.97% (p < 0.001). In total, 48 out of 119 (40.34%) pregnant women participating in the course and 39 companions were vaccinated for influenza. Vaccination knowledge and attitude significantly increased after a training session dedicated to vaccination as a part of the pregnant pre-birth course, whose aim can be therefore extended to the management of the health of the child, well beyond the period of pregnancy, according to the life-course approach to health.
Highlights
Vaccination is the most effective and powerful tool against preventable infectious diseases
A questionnaire on vaccination awareness was administered before and after the training session and on-site flu vaccination was offered to women and their companions
Out of 119 pregnant women who attended the birthing preparation course from October 2019 to January 2020, equal to the sum of the 28 women participating in the birthing accompaniment course in October 2019, 44 participants in November 2019, participants in December 2019 and participants in January 2020
Summary
Vaccination is the most effective and powerful tool against preventable infectious diseases. Mandatory attention to pregnant women is highlighted by the Circular of 21 November 2018 (Italian Ministry of Health) that recommends flu vaccination to all women in the second or third trimester at the beginning of the flu season [1]. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that each pregnant woman, regardless of the trimester of pregnancy, should receive a flu vaccine [3]. The vaccination coverage rate among pregnant women is usually lower than what is recommended, even with divergences among rates of different countries The secondary aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the on-site influenza vaccination offer for pregnant women (and their partners), who became aware of herd immunity and its importance during the course
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
