Most vaccinations are recommended within the 15th month of life, in order to reduce risks and to protect children from the initial stages of their lives. A vaccination training session was carried out during the birthing preparation course, aimed at increasing the attitude toward vaccination in maternal-child age. A questionnaire on vaccination awareness was administered before and after the training session and on-site flu vaccination was offered to women and their companions. The percentage of participants who consider the preparatory course a useful tool to obtain information about vaccines increases significantly from 30.34% at pre-intervention to 64.56% at post-intervention (p < 0.001). There is a significant increase in the mean number of vaccinations that the participants want their children to get. The number of participants believing that there is no relationship between vaccination and autism rose from 41.05 to 72.97% (p < 0.001). In total, 48 out of 119 (40.34%) pregnant women participating in the course and 39 companions were vaccinated for influenza. Vaccination knowledge and attitude significantly increased after a training session dedicated to vaccination as a part of the pregnant pre-birth course, whose aim can be therefore extended to the management of the health of the child, well beyond the period of pregnancy, according to the life-course approach to health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has globally disrupted immunisation practices, impacting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women (PW), who harbour concerns about future children’s immunisations. This study aimed to assess the pandemic’s impact on PW’s attitudes towards childhood vaccinations. During three consecutive flu seasons from October 2019 to January 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a large Italian teaching hospital using a questionnaire. The chi-square test was performed to compare each season. Across the 2019–2020 to 2021–2022 seasons, course attendance by PW surged from 105 to 340. Significant shifts in vaccination intentions were noted, including a 7.5% decrease in measles vaccination intent (p = 0.02) and a 10% decrease in that of pertussis (p = 0.004) from 2019–2020 to 2020–2021. While perceived contagion risk decreased, disease severity perceptions increased, with few significant differences. A statistically significant reduction was noted in the proportion of participants suspecting economic motives behind NHS workers’ promotion of childhood vaccinations. Furthermore, the pandemic period saw an increase in the perceived utility of non-institutional websites and the advice of physicians outside the NHS. These findings will help develop evidence-based, tailored interventions and communication strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure optimal vaccination coverage among children born during and after the pandemic.

To address the growing hazards to human health caused by the anthropogenic environmental catastrophe, academic curricula at all levels and disciplines, particularly medical education, should incorporate Planetary Health Education. This study aims to examine medical students' expectations and feedback on a Planetary Health elective in an Italian University. Cross-sectional study, employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Attendees were invited to take part in a mixed-methods written survey, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A statistical and a thematic analysis were conducted to assess responses to questions of a quantitative and qualitative nature, respectively. Interest in the climate crisis was the main reason for participating in the course (52·7 %), followed by interest in a multidisciplinary approach to health (48·6 %), and the focus on the relationship between human, animal and environmental health (48·6 %). Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis: relationship between human health and the environment, international health emergencies, characteristics and role of health systems, broadening of knowledge and views, positive professional impact of the course. The survey participants showed a deep understanding of the link between environmental conservation and the safeguarding of human health, suggesting that the next generation of medical practitioners could make a significant difference in healthcare and beyond.

The COVID-19 pandemic is considered one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Pregnant women are more susceptible to developing serious diseases during COVID-19 than their non-pregnant peers. Pregnant women often express doubt about accepting the vaccination, especially in regard to their security and safety. This study aims to investigate the appreciation of the vaccination offer, and if there are any determinants impacting vaccine hesitancy. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of pregnant women who had just received their immunization against COVID-19 at the vaccination service of a teaching hospital in Rome, from October 2021 to March 2022. A high appreciation of the vaccination services was found, both for the logistic organization and the healthcare personnel, with mean scores above 4 out of 5. The degree of pre-vaccinal doubt was low (41%) or medium (48%) for the largest part of the sample, while the degree of COVID-19 vaccine knowledge was high for 91% of the participants. Physicians were the most decisive information source for the vaccination choice. Our results highlighted that a supportive approach could increase appreciation and improve the setting of vaccinations. Healthcare professionals should aim for a more comprehensive and integrated role of all figures.

Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae severely affects adults over 65, especially those with comorbidities. Since vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) is unknown despite free availability, this study evaluates knowledge, behaviours, hesitancy and accessibility among employees of an Italian hospital. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey was administered via “SurveyMonkey.” From February 22 to June 15, 2024, healthcare and administrative staff aged ≥ 18 at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Gemelli were recruited by email. Descriptive and inferential analyses used Stata 16.1. Results: Among HCWs, 72% are women, with an average age of 48. Pneumococcal vaccination coverage is 20%, with 82.7% vaccinated in-hospital. Preferred information sources include courses, webinars, and institutional websites. For management staff, vaccine safety and effectiveness were significant determinants. Among administrative employees, 65% are women (average age 51); 19% are vaccinated, 24% are unsure, and 43% prefer in-hospital vaccination. Physicians cited trust in vaccines (25.3%) and self-protection (23.2%) as key motivators, compared with 12.4% among nursing, technical and rehabilitative staff. Recommendation to family members was higher among medical and specialist professionals (90%) than in other groups (77% in nursing/technical/rehabilitative; <50% in assistants and auxiliary staff). About half of the groups rated their knowledge at level 2 (scale 1–4). Multivariable regression analysis showed that medical professionals and specialists exhibited a higher perception of the importance and safety of vaccines compared with other categories. Conclusions: HCWs showed greater knowledge of pneumococcal vaccination, while administrative staff had lower awareness and more hesitancy. Both groups preferred in-hospital vaccination and expressed interest in structured educational initiatives.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in vaccination rates, impacting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women (PW), who concern about future children’s immunisations. The aim of this study was to assess whether the pandemic led to changes in childhood vaccination attitudes among PW attending antenatal classes at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli in Rome. Specifically, it assessed the impact of the pandemic on the perceived usefulness of information sources, their trust in healthcare workers (HCWs) and the National Health Service (NHS), their perception of the risk of infection and severity of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), and their vaccination intentions. Methods: A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted across three flu seasons by administering an anonymous questionnaire: one before and two during the pandemic. Intention to vaccinate children was expressed as the percentage of PW who selected each vaccination from the questionnaire. Trust in HCWs and the NHS, and perception of the risk of infection and severity of VPDs were expressed as the percentage of PW who answered “quite” or “very”. For the usefulness of information sources, mean scores were calculated. To assess differences of the three periods a chi-square test was performed (p = 0.05). Results: Course attendance surged from 105 to 340. Significant shifts in vaccination intentions were noted: 7.5% and 10% decreases for measles (p = 0.02) and pertussis (p = 0.004), respectively, from 2019-20 to 2020-21. Perceived contagion risk decreased, but perceived disease severity increased. A significant reduction in the proportion of PW suspecting economic interest behind NHS workers promoting vaccination, and an increase in the perceived usefulness of non-institutional websites and of the advice from non-NHS physicians were noted. Conclusions: PW’s attitudes towards vaccinations might have been modified by COVID-19 pandemic, regarding risk perception and trust in NHS HCWs. Key messages: • Our findings suggests that PW’s attitudes towards childhood vaccinations might be modified by the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular risk perception and trust in NHS healthcare workers. • These findings could help Public Health to develop evidence-based interventions and communication strategies, to maintain vaccine confidence and mitigate potential adverse effects.