Flu vaccination coverage in Italy in the COVID-19 era: A fuzzy functional k-means (FFKM) approach

Exploring influenza vaccination determinants through digital participatory surveillance

BACKGROUND

Vaccination is key for mitigating the impact of recurring seasonal influenza epidemics. Despite the efficacy and safety of influenza vaccines, achieving optimal vaccination uptake remains a challenge. This study aimed to explore the determinants of influenza vaccination uptake using data from Influweb, the Italian node of the Influenzanet participatory surveillance network.

METHODS

This study utilizes a longitudinal dataset of self-reported vaccination statuses from Italian participants across the 2011-2021 flu seasons. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with vaccination uptake. Post-stratification weights were applied to account for demographic differences between the Influweb sample and the general population.

RESULTS

The analysis reveals that individuals using public transport and those living with minors are less likely to receive the influenza vaccination. On the other hand, university-educated individuals, and those on medication for chronic diseases are more likely to be vaccinated. Age also plays a role: individuals aged 44 and under are less likely to vaccinate compared to those aged 45-65, while those over 65 are more likely to do so. Furthermore, higher cumulative influenza-like illness incidence rates within a macro-region are associated with increased vaccination uptake. Finally, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in influenza vaccination uptake. Comparison of the Influweb data to vaccination rates reported by the Italian Health Ministry revealed higher coverage for self-reported vaccination. This could be linked to the voluntary nature of the survey, possibly attracting a more health-conscious cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that individuals living with minors and those relying on public transportation have lower odds of being vaccinated, despite having a higher documented risk of respiratory virus exposure. These findings highlight the importance of continued public health efforts targeting vulnerable groups and raising awareness about the risks of forgoing vaccination. The complex interplay of socioeconomic, demographic, and public health context significantly shapes vaccination decisions, emphasizing the need for tailored public health campaigns.

The impact of attitude toward COVID-19 vaccine on intention to receive influenza vaccination: a multi-group comparison based on the influence of presumed influence model and spillover effects

Introduction

Influenza vaccination is one of the most important strategies for preventing influenza. However, the influenza vaccination rate in China remains low. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people held different attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. In the post-pandemic era, do the varying attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine affect the intention to receive influenza vaccination?

Methods

Based on the influence of presumed influence (IPI) model and spillover effects, this study employed structural equation modeling for multi-group comparison to analyze questionnaires from 613 participants, using instruments such as the Perceived Media Influence on Others Scale (PMIO), the Susceptibility to Influenza Scale (SI), and the Attitude toward Influenza Vaccine Scale (AIV).

Results

The key findings are as follows: (1) Information exposure to the influenza vaccine significantly influences perceived media influence on others. (2) Perceived media influence on others does not directly impact the intention to receive influenza vaccination but rather affects it through attitude toward the influenza vaccine. (3) Moreover, multi-group analyses revealed differences in the IPI model among audiences with different attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. These differences demonstrated that prior attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine can influence attitudes toward similar influenza vaccines, thus demonstrating the existence of spillover effects.

Conclusion

Attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine can influence the intention to receive the influenza vaccination. Those with a negative attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine are significantly influenced by susceptibility to influenza. Perceived media influence affects the intention to receive the influenza vaccination among those with a positive attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccine Hesitancy and Public Mistrust during Pandemic Decline: Findings from 2021 and 2023 Cross-Sectional Surveys in Northern Italy

This study examines vaccine agreements in South Tyrol, Italy, within distinct socio-cultural and linguistic contexts. Using data from the 2021 and 2023 "COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring" extended surveys, we assessed changes in attitudes towards COVID-19 and other vaccinations during the second and final years of the pandemic. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors such as trust in institutions, language groups, and the use of complementary and alternative medicine. The representativeness of the study is supported by good participation rates, ensuring a comprehensive view of attitudes towards vaccination in the region. The results show a shift in public agreement with the national vaccination plan to 64% by 2023, from a rate of about 73% agreement in 2021 (p < 0.001). A significant decrease in trust in health authorities and a negative correlation with complementary and alternative medicine consultations were observed. The results highlight the complex nature of vaccine hesitancy in diverse regions such as South Tyrol and underline the need for targeted communication strategies and trust-building initiatives to effectively reduce hesitancy. This study provides critical insights for the formulation of public health strategies in diverse sociocultural settings.