The Association between Parental Child Vaccination Refusal Rate and the Impact of Mass Vaccination against COVID-19 in Kazakhstan: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis with Predictive Modelling of Nationwide Data Sources from 2013 to 2022

Despite well-established evidence supporting vaccination efficacy in reducing morbidity and mortality among infants and children, there is a global challenge with an increasing number of childhood vaccination refusals. This issue has intensified, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study aims to forecast mandatory childhood vaccination refusal trends in Kazakhstan until 2030, assessing the impact of mass COVID-19 vaccination on these rates. Utilizing annual official statistical data from 2013 to 2022 provided by the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, the study reveals a significant surge in refusals during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, reaching record levels of 42,282 cases in 2021 and 44,180 cases in 2022. Notably, refusal rates sharply rose in specific regions, like Aktobe (13.9 times increase) and Atyrau (4.29 times increase), emphasizing the need for increased public healthcare attention in these areas. However, despite a decade of data, our forecasting analysis indicates a lack of volatility in childhood vaccine refusal trends for all vaccine types up to 2030, highlighting the statistical significance of the obtained results. The increasing trend in vaccine refusals underscores the necessity to enhance crisis response and support health initiatives, particularly in regions where a substantial rise in refusals has been observed in recent years.

Safety profile of MenB-FHBp vaccine among adolescents: data from surveillance of Adverse Events Following Immunization in Puglia (Italy), 2018-2020

MenB-FHBp was licensed in Europe in 2017 from the age of 10. In the “postmarketing life” of a new vaccine, surveillance of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) is crucial, to better understand the pattern of safety and the effectiveness. This paper describes the MenB-FHBp AEFIs notified in Puglia in 2018–2021, to take a picture of the safety profile of this vaccine in the real life, four years after its introduction in Italy. This is a retrospective observational study. Data were collected from the list of AEFIs notified after MenB-FHBp vaccine administration in Puglia in 2018–2020, and the number of doses of this vaccine administered in the same period. AEFIs were classified according to WHOʻs algorithm, and causality assessment was carried out for serious AEFIs. From January 2018 to December 2020, in Puglia, 43,061 doses of MenB-FHBp were administered and 42 MenB-FHBp AEFIs (reporting rate: 97.5 per 100,000 doses administered) were reported. Among these, 12 were classified as severe (28.6%; reporting rate 27.9 per 100,000 doses). Overall, the male/female ratio in AEFIs was 1:1. The median age of people who suffered from AEFIs was 12 years (range 11–13). For the 11 serious AEFIs for which the classification was “consistent causal association,” the diagnosis was hyperpyrexia (reporting rate 13.9 per 100,000 doses), fainting (rate 4.6 per 100,000 doses), urticaria (rate 2,3 per 100,000 doses), convulsions (rate 2,3 per 100,000 doses), and vomit (rate 2,3 per 100,000 doses). No deaths or impairment were notified in studied AEFIs. The picture of MenB-FHBp vaccine supports that the risk of AEFIs is in line with previous published data and in general acceptable.

Determinants of vaccine hesitancy and effectiveness of vaccination counseling interventions among a sample of the general population in Palermo, Italy

Counteract vaccine hesitancy is a public health priority. Main objectives of the cross-sectional study conducted were to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding vaccination issues, to estimate the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and to estimate the effectiveness of vaccination counseling on community advocacy in a sample of general population. An anonymous validated questionnaire was administered in April 2017 at the main shopping center of Palermo and was followed by tailored vaccination counseling interventions. To estimate the effectiveness of the interventions four main connection parameters to the vaccinarsi.org website were evaluated, in the two months before and after the intervention and in the two months before the intervention compared with the same period of previous and following years. Among the 299 subject enrolled 12.7% were hesitant about vaccinations, and 4.7% declared being against vaccinations. General practitioners (GPs) and pediatricians were the most affordable source of information about vaccinations. A higher probability of vaccination hesitancy/refusal was reported among subjects who considered "alternative strategies" the best way for the prevention of infectious diseases (adj-OR = 7.01, IC95% 2.88-17.09, p-value < 0.001). A considerable increase of all the vaccinarsi.org website indicators analyzed was observed, from the area in which survey participants lived. Prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among population surveyed is consistent with the literature data. HCWs, such as GPs and pediatricians, should play a key role in modifying personal convictions and choices about vaccinations. A proper vaccination counseling could improve attitudes regarding vaccination issues, such as quality of web-based research.