Background: General practitioners (GPs) and primary care units collaborate with Prevention Departments (PDs) to improve immunization by participating in vaccination campaigns, sharing tools, and implementing educational programs to raise patient awareness. This review aimed to identify effective strategies for involving GPs in PD vaccination practices. Methods: A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted on MEDLINE, TripDatabase, ClinicalTrials, CINAHL, and Cochrane up to January 2024 to identify full-text studies in English evaluating the effectiveness of GP involvement. A meta-analysis was also performed. Results: Of 1018 records, 15 studies were included, with an intermediate quality assessment. Studies originated from the United States (n = 9), Europe (5), Singapore (1), and China (1). Eight studies investigated educational programs for GPs, while seven focused on organizational or technological interventions to enhance immunization practices. Twelve studies reported increased vaccine uptake after intervention. Vaccines addressed included influenza, SARS-CoV-2, pneumococcal, zoster, and trivalent (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis). Interventions involving GPs in PD vaccination campaigns, focusing on organizational or technological strategies, demonstrated a significant increase in vaccine uptake (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.03–1.27; p < 0.0001; I² = 96%). Conclusions: GPs emerged as valuable allies for PDs due to their extensive territorial reach and trusted relationships with patients. Additionally, up-to-date organizational and technological tools could play a decisive role in increasing vaccine uptakes. This study, offering valuable insights into the effectiveness of GPs involvement, may be useful to implement similar intervention in different contexts.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection poses a significant health risk, particularly for high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM), people living with HIV (PLHIV), and transgender individuals. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, uptake among these groups remains suboptimal due to various social and behavioral barriers (BeSD). A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) clinic in Bologna, Italy, from 8 April to 12 April 2024 using a paper questionnaire, investigating HPV vaccine uptake and BeSD factors influencing vaccination decisions. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. Among the 236 respondents, PLHIV and transgender individuals demonstrated lower uptake rates (60.0% and 15.6%) if compared to women under 30 years old (72.7%). Concern about HPV infection varied significantly across groups, with MSM showing the highest worry (48.7%). Perceptions of vaccine safety and access were mixed, influencing vaccination decisions. Multivariate analysis indicated that age inversely correlated with infection worry (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91–0.98), while being a woman under 30 (OR: 164.0, 95% CI: 17.2–1560.18) or MSM (OR: 3.53, 95% CI: 1.37–9.11) was positively associated with vaccine uptake. The study identifies disparities in HPV vaccine uptake among STI clinic users in Bologna, Italy, emphasizing the need for targeted public health campaigns. These campaigns could engage STI clinics and address awareness, safety perceptions, and access barriers to enhance vaccination coverage among sexual and gender minorities.

Background/Objectives: Since 2023, a significant increase in measles cases has been reported worldwide, and Italy has been among the most affected European countries. In this context, the integration of laboratory and epidemiological data enables timely case classification and helps distinguish between imported and indigenous cases, supporting disease control. However, most studies address only selected aspects of surveillance. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an integrated analysis of virological and epidemiological surveillance activities conducted between November 2023 and December 2025 by the Regional Reference Laboratory in the Emilia-Romagna Region (ERR). Methods: A total of 806 clinical samples (269 urine, 267 oral fluids—saliva or oropharyngeal swabs—and 270 sera) from 291 suspected measles cases were tested by molecular and/or serological methods, and MV genotyping was performed. Samples from discarded cases were also analysed for parvovirus B19 (B19V), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), enterovirus (EV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV). Results: Of 291 suspected cases, 176 (60.5%) were confirmed. Median age was 33 years, with 46% in the 15–39 year group. Vaccination status was available for 165: 90.3% were unvaccinated, 5.4% had one dose, and 4.2% had two doses. Notably, over half of confirmed cases occurred in areas with vaccine-hesitant communities. MV strain characterisation was performed in 99.4% of MV-RNA positive cases, with 84.3% genotype D8 and 15.6% genotype B3; 83% of strains were of indigenous origin, suggesting an ongoing endemic circulation. Clinical data showed complications in 19.3%, mainly pneumonia and diarrhoea. Additionally, differential diagnosis enabled the identification of the etiological agent in 37.5% of measles/rubella discarded cases, and 37.6% (29/77) tested positive for B19V. Conclusions: The study results highlight that effective measles surveillance must be supported by integrating timely virological diagnosis, molecular and epidemiological investigations, and differential diagnosis, to achieve the WHO goals of eliminating measles transmission.

Issue: Vaccine hesitancy (VH) and the challenges faced by healthcare workers (HWs) in evaluating the complex risk-benefit ratio of vaccines’ threaten the effectiveness of vaccination policy. The threat is enhanced when new vaccines are adopted during a pandemic emergency. In Italy, the Emilia-Romagna Region (ERR) created a specialized referral board called Vax-Consilium (VC) to support and guide HWs. Description of the problem: During a pandemic emergency, rapid and appropriate vaccine implementation is necessary to protect fragile individuals and to encourage vaccine adherence among exposed groups. Challenges in the realm of vaccination emerge, especially when dealing with patients with a complex medical history or previous vaccine adverse events. HWs were able to consult VC via a standardized digital form after obtaining the patient’s informed consent. After a multidisciplinary and evidence-based evaluation, VC provided a conclusive report on the individual vaccine risk-benefit analysis. No cost is charged to the patient. Results: During the anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign in 2021, 148 interrogations were submitted to VC: 121 were evaluated, whereas 27 were withdrawn by the HWs or rejected because of insufficient documentation. Mean patient age was 44 years. No absolute contraindication was found, whereas in 23 cases VC recommended immunization with a different vaccine. The disciplines most frequently involved were neurology, angiology and cardiology. Lessons: VC implementation in EER proved highly effective. Indeed, during the pandemic, anti-COVID-19 vaccination coverage reached >90%. In addition, DTaP-polio-HBV-HIb and MMR vaccination coverage reached >95%. VC proved to be a high-quality public health service. Not only was citizens’ trust in the healthcare system enhanced and was VH reduced, but HWs knowledge improved even in cases not considered in national and international guidelines. Key messages: • A specialized referral board (Vax-Consilium) could be an effective tool for enhancing citizens’ trust in vaccines. • A specialized referral board (Vax-Consilium) contributes to lowering VH and supporting HWs decision-making process.