In-hospital and web-based intervention to counteract vaccine hesitancy in very preterm infants’ families: a NICU experience

Italian Journal of Pediatrics

Pasquale Stefanizzi¹  Federica Di Mauro²  Orazio Valerio Giannico³  Manuela Capozza⁴  Federico Schettini⁴  Nicola Laforgia⁴  Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre⁴  Chiara Greco⁴  Antonio Di Mauro⁵  Francesca Maria Grosso⁶ 

[1] Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari;Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority of Bari;Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority of Taranto;Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari;Pediatric Primary Care, National Pediatric Health Care System;Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan;

关键词: Preterm newborn;    Vaccine hesitancy;    Web-based intervention;    Vaccination;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13052-021-01129-x

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Vaccine hesitancy is a global problem, carrying significant health risks for extremely vulnerable population as that of preterm infants. Social media are emerging as significant tools for public health promotion. Our aim was to evaluate both the coverage and the timeliness of routine immunizations in a cohort of preterm infants (< 33 weeks of gestational age) at 24 months of age whose families have been subjected to in-hospital and web-based interventions to counteract vaccine hesitancy. Methods For a period of 2 years parents of preterm infants were instructed during their follow up visits by a member of the NICU team to get correct informations about vaccines from a social network page. Vaccination rates of preterm infants were assessed at 24 months of chronological age with an electronic database and compared to both general population and historical cohort. Results Coverage and timeliness of vaccinations at 24 months of age of 170 preterm infants were analyzed in December 2019. Gestational age and birth weight median (IQR) were, respectively, 31.0 (5.0) weeks and 1475.0 (843.8) g. Coverage rates were similar to those of the regional population (p > 0.05), while timeliness of administration was significantly delayed compared to the recommended schedule (p < 0.001). Age of administration was not correlated with either body weight and gestational age at birth (Spearman rank, p > 0.05). DTaP-IPV-HBV-Hib 2nd and 3rd doses, MMR and Varicella vaccines coverage data were higher compared to historical cohort (p < 0.05). Conclusion Increasing vaccine confidence through web-based interventions could have a positive impact on vaccination acceptance of parents of preterm infants, although timeliness results still delayed. There is a strong need to develop different and effective vaccination strategies to protect this very vulnerable population.

【 授权许可】

Unknown