Pregnant women are more susceptible to influenza virus infections due to the immunological and physiological changes in the course of pregnancy. Vaccination during pregnancy is a safe and effective method for protecting both the mothers and the infants from influenza and its complications. This study was conducted in order to determine the knowledge and attitudes of Polish pregnant women towards influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire-based and self-administered study was carried out fully online and a total of 515 women participated. A total of 52% (n = 268) of surveyed women answered that vaccination against influenza during pregnancy was safe. However, only 21% (n = 108) were vaccinated against influenza during their current pregnancy and 17.5% (n = 90) intended to be vaccinated. The participants indicated many concerns about getting vaccinated during pregnancy, but also many benefits that come with the vaccination. General knowledge about influenza, its complications, and vaccination was quite high in the study group.

Pregnant women are considered to be a population vulnerable to influenza and COVID-19 infections, and the latest guidelines consistently recommend that they receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among pregnant women in Poland to determine which factors have the greatest impact on their decision to vaccinate against influenza and COVID-19. A total of 515 pregnant women participated in the study. Among them, 38.4% (n = 198) demonstrated a positive attitude toward influenza vaccination, and 64.3% (n = 331) demonstrated a positive attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the strongest influence on positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination is having it recommended by an obstetrician–gynecologist (OR = 2.439, p = 0.025). The obstetrician–gynecologist’s recommendation to vaccinate against influenza also significantly influences the decision to vaccinate (OR = 5.323). The study results also show a strong correlation between the obstetrician–gynecologist as a source of information on influenza and vaccination and participants’ positive attitudes toward vaccination (OR = 4.163). Obstetricians have a significant influence on pregnant women’s decisions regarding vaccinations. Further recommendations to vaccinate and awareness-raising among obstetricians may be needed to increase the vaccination rate of pregnant women in Poland.

Ovarian cancer is responsible for the highest number of deaths of all female genital cancers. It is ranked as the sixth in the incidence and fourth in the mortality rate of malignant tumours in women in Poland. The disease is initially asymptomatic, which is why it is usually detected at advanced stages. More than 70% of ovarian cancer cases are detected at the stage III or IV according to the FIGO classification. The treatment of ovarian cancer is mainly based on surgery combined with systemic treatment (chemotherapy based on platinum derivatives and taxanes). Although most patients achieve a good response to first-line chemotherapy, there is usually a recurrence and drug resistance at a later stage, and the prognosis for recurrence is poor. PARP (Poly ADP-ribose polymerase) inhibitors are a new class of oral anticancer drugs that target DNA repair pathways and have shown promising efficacy in ovarian cancer patients in recent clinical trials. Olaparib, rucaparib and niraparib are innovative drugs currently changing clinical practice in ovarian cancer patients.