Actual Vaccination Rates Research Articles

Knowledge Level of Human Papillomavirus, Cervical Cancer and Vaccination Status among Mothers with Daughters in High School.

The goal of this study was to examine knowledge level of human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer, and vaccination status among Korean mothers' with a daughter in high school. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a convenience sample of 234 Korean mothers. The mean score of HPV knowledge level was 4.21 out of 20, and cervical cancer knowledge was 3.88 out of 7. There were low levels of daughters' who received HPV vaccination (3.8%) and high levels of mothers' intention to get their daughters' vaccinated with HPV (85.0%). The major barrier to HPV vaccination was the concern for side effect from the vaccination. The most effective recommendation for HPV vaccination came from health care providers. HPV educational programs targeting mothers of daughters in high school is needed. Future studies need to determine actual HPV vaccination rates and factors related to high uptake using a larger sample from various socioeconomic background.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding HPV Vaccination: Ethnic and Cultural Differences Between African-American and Haitian Immigrant Women

BackgroundBlack women have higher rates of cervical cancer and lower rates of HPV vaccination than White women in the United States, and Haitians may be an especially vulnerable subgroup of Black women. To reduce these disparities, understanding differences among subgroups of Black women is crucial. MethodsThe objective of our study was to assess similarities and differences in the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices toward HPV vaccination and actual vaccination rates among African-American and Haitian immigrant women and their daughters. We used validated surveys of HPV knowledge, trust in physicians, acculturation, and constructs of the health belief model: Perceived susceptibility, severity, and barriers. We probed women's thought processes about vaccination using open-ended questions. We then reviewed medical records to determine vaccination rates. ResultsNineteen African Americans and 51 Haitians participated. Although 75% of Haitians and 63% of African Americans intended to vaccinate their daughters, only 47% of African-American and 31% of Haitian daughters were vaccinated. African Americans were more knowledgeable than Haitians and had more prior experience with HPV disease. Most African Americans felt that vaccination fell within the parental role, whereas many Haitians felt uncomfortable vaccinating against sexually transmitted infections because they felt children should not be having sex. Both ethnic groups wanted more information about HPV vaccines. ConclusionCultural differences between African-American and Haitian immigrant mothers revealed distinct barriers for vaccine acceptance. Improving HPV vaccine rates in Black women may require culturally competent and sensitive approaches that address ethnic-specific barriers.

Vaccination survey in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

The objective of this study is to evaluate the vaccination status in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients during routine clinical practice, data from a German non-interventional cross-sectional study. In this prospective study, patients with rheumatoid arthritis were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire focusing on vaccination. Available vaccination documents were evaluated, and titers for common vaccination antigens (hepatitis B, rubella, mumps, measles, diphtheria, tetanus) were analyzed with special regard to the underlying treatment and age of patients. A total of 301 RA patients treated with conventional DMARDs alone (cohort I, n=125), TNF-blocking agents (cohort II, n=117), or B-cell depletion with rituximab (cohort III, n=59) have been studied. Significantly more patients in the biologic cohorts II and III were aware of an increased risk of infections (I: 67.7%, II: 83.8%*, III: 89.9%*, P<0.05). Pneumococcal vaccination rate was significantly higher (I: 20.2%, II 36.8%* and III: 39.0%*, P<0.05) compared with cohort I. Differences were less evident for influenza. Significantly more patients ≥60years of age have been vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza. An obvious discrepancy existed between vaccination awareness and actual vaccination rates for all cohorts. No significant differences in vaccination titers could be seen between the three cohorts. Awareness of infectious complications was more present in patients treated with biologicals, and also, the rate of patients vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae increased significantly depending on the underlying treatment. Nevertheless, there was a discrepancy between vaccination awareness and actual vaccination rates for all cohorts.

Vaccination programs between individual autonomy and common welfare

Vaccinations are among the most effective and cost-effective means to prevent serious infectious diseases. Actual vaccination rates, however, still fall short of their full potential to reduce morbidity and mortality both in industrialized and low-income countries. Therefore, strategies to increase immunization rates are ethically and economically mandated, raising the following ethical issue: To what extent is it ethically appropriate to restrict individual autonomy by compulsory immunization requirements in order to achieve a sufficient collective protection of the community? Restrictions of individual autonomy are ethically justified if the following five conditions are met: (1) proven benefit, (2) favourable benefit-risk-ratio, (3) acceptable cost-benefit ratio, (4) as little restrictions as possible and (5) fair and transparent decision procedures. Depending on how far these five criteria are met, different strengths of recommendation result for each specific immunization program. However, there are good ethical and pragmatic arguments against compulsory vaccination enforced by law. Rather, one should try to strengthen public support and trust in vaccination programs by a proactive and persuasive information policy.