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Primieri C, Chiavarini M, Giacchetta I, de Waure C, Bietta C. COVID-19 Vaccination Actual Uptake and Potential Inequalities Due to Socio-Demographic Characteristics: A Population-Based Study in the Umbria Region, Italy. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1351. [PMID: 37631919 PMCID: PMC10458483 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11081351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Socio-demographic factors are responsible for health inequalities also in vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate their role at the population level through a population-based study performed on the whole population entitled to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the Umbria Region, Italy, and registered to the Regional Healthcare Service as of 28 February 2021. Socio-demographic characteristics and vaccination status in terms of uptake of at least one dose of any available vaccine, completion of the primary vaccination cycle and uptake of the booster doses as of 28 February 2022 were collected from the Umbria regional database. The percentage of eligible population who did not initiate the COVID-19 vaccination, complete the full vaccination cycle and get the booster dose was 11.8%, 1.2% and 21.5%, respectively. A younger age, being a non-Italian citizen, and not holding an exemption for chronic disease/disability and a GP/FP were associated with all the endpoints. Females, as compared to males, were more likely to not initiate the vaccination but less likely to not receive the booster dose. On the contrary, the findings did not show a significant association between the deprivation index and the vaccine uptake. The findings, beyond confirming current knowledge at the population level, provide new inputs for better tailoring vaccination campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Primieri
- Local Health Unit 1 of Umbria, Prevention Department, Epidemiology Service, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (C.P.); (C.B.)
| | - Manuela Chiavarini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, 60121 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Irene Giacchetta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Chiara de Waure
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Carla Bietta
- Local Health Unit 1 of Umbria, Prevention Department, Epidemiology Service, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (C.P.); (C.B.)
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Boragno P, Fiabane E, Taino I, Maffoni M, Sommovigo V, Setti I, Gabanelli P. Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccines: Protective Shields or Threatening Risks? A Descriptive Exploratory Study among the Italian Population. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:642. [PMID: 36992226 PMCID: PMC10054618 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Although several quantitative studies have explored vaccine hesitancy, qualitative research on the factors underlying attitudes toward vaccination is still lacking. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the general perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines among the Italian population with a qualitative approach. The sample included 700 Italian participants who completed an online survey. Open questions underwent a descriptive analysis for unveiling meaning categories, while differences in the prevalence of categories were calculated using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Vaccination was associated with the following seven main themes: 'safety', 'healthcare', 'vaccine delivery', 'progress', 'ambivalence', 'mistrust', and 'ethics'. Vaccinated individuals more frequently reported words related to the safety theme (χ2 = 46.7, p < 0.001), while unvaccinated individuals more frequently reported words related to mistrust (χ2 = 123, p < 0.001) and ambivalence (χ2 = 48.3, p < 0.001) themes. Working in the healthcare sector and being younger than 40 years affected the general perceptions of vaccination in terms of pro-vaccine attitudes. Unvaccinated individuals were more affected by the negative experiences of their acquaintances and manifested more distrust of scientific researchers, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies than vaccinated individuals. These findings suggest promoting collaborative efforts of governments, health policymakers, and media sources, including social media companies, in order to deal with cognitions and emotions supporting vaccine hesitancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Boragno
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Fiabane
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Irene Taino
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marina Maffoni
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Montescano Institute, 27040 Montescano, Italy
| | - Valentina Sommovigo
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Setti
- Unit of Applied Psychology, Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Paola Gabanelli
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Psychology Unit of Pavia Institute, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Alderotti G, Corvo MF, Buscemi P, Stacchini L, Giorgetti D, Lorini C, Bonaccorsi G, Pinilla MJC, Lastrucci V. Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020223. [PMID: 36851101 PMCID: PMC9968224 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of the vaccine and the infodemia have challenged communication about COVID-19 vaccines. This study aims to characterize-through the experience of vaccinators-the challenges faced during COVID-19 vaccination consultations and the communication strategies adopted. A qualitative study was conducted on COVID-19 vaccinators in Tuscany, Italy. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and examined by thematic analysis. In total, 30 vaccinators were interviewed. Four main themes emerged. The first highlighted distinct profiles of users' attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. Barriers and promoters of vaccine uptake emerged in the second theme: concerns over the vaccine, excessive exposure to information, and a lack of clear guidance from institutions were the main factors behind hesitancy. The third theme highlighted users' information-seeking behaviors; vaccinators observed that users ideologically opposed to the vaccine (IOV) unconsciously seek information that confirms their theories. The last theme comprised communication strategies for dealing with hesitancy. Empathy, first-hand examples, transparency, and tailored communication style appear to be effective in building vaccine trust. Lastly, the impossibility of developing a decision-making partnership with IOVs was noticed. These findings may help to better characterize public attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and highlight key communication principles and strategies to foster vaccine confidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Alderotti
- Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Martina Felicia Corvo
- Global Health Center, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Primo Buscemi
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Stacchini
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Duccio Giorgetti
- Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Lorini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | | | - Maria José Caldés Pinilla
- Global Health Center, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Vieri Lastrucci
- Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Pérez-Bermejo M, Cloquell-Lozano A, Moret-Tatay C, Arteaga-Moreno FJ. Social Vulnerability and COVID-19 Vaccine in Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14013. [PMID: 36360892 PMCID: PMC9656956 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Different analyses show that the design of vaccination policies should especially protect the most vulnerable social groups, since the level of acceptance is determined by the population's knowledge, attitude and concerns about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The objective of this work will be to detect the most socially vulnerable groups with respect to COVID-19 and to analyze the factors that influence predisposition to vaccination. This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) on the Effects and Consequences of Coronavirus (Study 3346 of December 2021). Sociodemographic variables (sex, age, employment status, studies and subjective class identification) were extracted, as well as the answers to the questions indicating the attitude towards vaccination, corresponding to questions 7,8,10 and 11 of the study. The most vulnerable group was lower class women (self-perceived), under 45 years of age with lower educational level, unemployed or performing unpaid work in the home. Most of them are not predisposed to vaccinate only because of the obligation to do so, mainly due to lack of belief in the power and efficacy of vaccines, as well as fear of health risks/collateral side effects. The lower vaccine uptake in this vulnerable population group may be due to a lack of awareness and lower trust in the authorities, as well as the benefits of the vaccine, which could be related to a lack of policy targeting the most socially vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelino Pérez-Bermejo
- OAMI-UCV (Research Methodology Support Office), Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain
- SONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo nº 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Alexis Cloquell-Lozano
- OAMI-UCV (Research Methodology Support Office), Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Moret-Tatay
- OAMI-UCV (Research Methodology Support Office), Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain
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