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Sinopoli A, Baccolini V, Di Rosa E. Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Is the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign an Opportunity to Improve Adherence to Cancer Screening Programmes? The Challenge of a Pilot Project in a Large Local Health Authority in Rome. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030523. [PMID: 36992105 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health services worldwide. The suspension of cancer screening programs during the lockdown period, coupled with the other measures taken to limit the SARS-CoV-2 spread, contributed to the idea that cancer preventive interventions are deferrable. In this opinion paper, we present some data on cancer screening coverage in one of the largest Local Health Authorities in Italy in recent years. Within this context, we introduce the benefits of a pilot project in which we took advantage of the great attention on the COVID-19 vaccination campaign to improve screening uptake. In this project, we offered men and women eligible for cancer screening the opportunity to book appointments while waiting to be vaccinated. In addition, trained healthcare personnel were available on-site to discuss any barriers to participation with the attendees. Despite the project having only just started, preliminary results are encouraging, with positive feedback from the attendees. In conclusion, we advocate for the need to adopt a comprehensive approach when it comes to population health, and we use this project as an example to discuss how it is possible to contribute to minimizing the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with resources already in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Sinopoli
- Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority Roma 1, 00193 Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Baccolini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Di Rosa
- Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority Roma 1, 00193 Rome, Italy
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