Influenza Vaccination Campaign during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of a Research and Teaching Hospital in Milan.

Pier Mario Perrone,Andrea Cinnirella,Claudia Gallana,Viktoriia Shishmintseva,Elena Pariani,Giacomo Biganzoli,Francesca Maria Grosso,Maurizio Lecce,Ambra Castrofino,Emanuela Maria Campagnoli,Federica Fornaro,Silvana Castaldi,Manuel Maffeo

doi:10.3390/ijerph18115874

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, optimal influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) is crucial to avoid absenteeism and disruption of health services, as well as in-hospital influenza outbreaks. The aim of this study is to analyze the 2020 influenza vaccination campaign, comparing it with the previous year’s in a research and teaching hospital in Northern Italy. Methods: adopting an approach based on combined strategies, three interventions were deployed: a promotional and educational campaign, vaccination delivery through both ad hoc and on-site ambulatories, and a gaming strategy. Personal data and professional categories were collected and analyzed using univariate logistic regression. Vaccinated HCWs were asked to fill in a questionnaire to describe their reasons for vaccination adherence. Results: the vaccination coverage rate (VCR) was 43.1%, compared to 21.5% in 2019. The highest increase was registered among administrative staff (308.3%), while physicians represent the most vaccinated category (n = 600). Moreover, residents (prevalence ratio (PR): 1.12; 95% CI 1.04–1.20), as well as intensive care (PR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.24–1.69) and newborn workers (PR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.20–1.65) were, respectively, the categories most frequently vaccinated for the first time. Conclusion: the significant increase in vaccination coverage rate confirms the suitability of the combined strategy of delivering the flu vaccination campaign and represents a first step towards reaching WHO recommended vaccination rates.

Highlights

Seasonal influenza is an infectious disease with a high impact on public health systems, both in terms of incidence and in terms of morbidity and mortality [1,2,3]
The aim of this study is to evaluate the compliance of healthcare workers (HCWs) with influenza vaccination in IRCCS Fondazione Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, a research and teaching hospital in Milan, Italy, to compare the vaccination coverage rate (VCR) of this year to that of previous years and to analyze adherence to vaccination in different population subgroups
The increase in vaccination coverage could be explained by several different elements, such as a targeted promotional and educational campaign based on the analysis of a previous survey on reasons for vaccine hesitancy, the success of the on-site vaccination strategy, or the proposal of a challenge between hospital departments [20]

Summary

Introduction

Seasonal influenza is an infectious disease with a high impact on public health systems, both in terms of incidence and in terms of morbidity and mortality [1,2,3]. 3–5 million cases of severe illness and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths [4]. In Europe, seasonal influenza accounts for 4–50 million cases and 15,000–70,000 deaths every year [5]. Influenza infection of HCW could lead to an increase in absenteeism, causing economic losses [8]. They represent a major target group for vaccination, with the aim of preventing severe disease in themselves, absenteeism, and

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