Do Pediatricians and Nurses Recommend Vaccines for Preterm Infants? A Survey in Italy

Prevention of Meningococcal Disease: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of General Practitioners and Primary Care Pediatricians in South Italy

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and current practices about prevention of meningococcal disease among general practitioners (GPs) and primary care pediatricians (PCPs) in Italy.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was carried out between February 2022 and July 2023 among a random sample of GPs and PCPs in Southern Italy. The data were collected using a questionnaire accessible via an internet link with the free software Google Forms®.

RESULTS

Regarding the participants' knowledge toward meningococcal vaccinations, 84.2% of the PCPs and more than half of the GPs (55.2%) knew that the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination is recommended for infants from the second month of life and 84.2% and 82.7% of the PCPs were aware that quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine is recommended for children in the second year of life and adolescents, respectively. The GPs and PCPs considered vaccination against meningococcal disease to be very effective and safe with average values of 8.8 and 8.7, respectively, on a scale ranging from 1 to 10. Those with an older age, those who knew the medical conditions that expose patients to a higher risk of contracting meningococcal disease, and those who self-rated their knowledge on meningococcal disease as excellent/very good were more likely to consider the vaccination to be very effective and safe. Only 15.5% of the GPs and more than half of the PCPs (54.3%) administered anti-meningococcal vaccines to their patients. GPs and females were less likely to administer anti-meningococcal vaccines to their patients, whereas those who acquired information on meningococcal vaccinations by scientific journals were more likely to administer meningococcal vaccines.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the survey highlighted the need of a greater engagement of GPs and PCPs in the immunization campaigns in order to increase meningococcal vaccination coverage.

Penta- and hexavalent vaccination of extremely and very-to-moderate preterm infants born at less than 34 weeks and/or under 1500 g: A systematic literature review

Debate regarding vaccinating high-risk infants with penta- and hexavalent vaccines persists, despite their good immunogenicity and acceptable safety profile in healthy full-term infants. We report the findings of a systematic literature search that aimed to present data on the immunogenicity, efficacy, effectiveness, safety, impact, compliance and completion of penta- and hexavalent vaccination in high-risk infants, including premature newborns. Data from the 14 studies included in the review showed that the immunogenicity and the safety profile of penta- and hexavalent vaccines in preterm infants was generally similar to those seen in full-term infants, with the exception of an increase in cardiorespiratory adverse events such as apnea, bradycardia and desaturation following vaccination in preterm infants. Despite recommendations of vaccinating preterm infants according to their actual age, and the relatively high completion rate of the primary immunization schedule, vaccination was often delayed, increasing the vulnerability of this high-risk population to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Midwives' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Women: A Nationwide Web-Based Survey in Italy

This cross-sectional survey investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning the COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women among midwives in Italy and the associated factors. Midwives with at least five years of midwifery education and who had received information about the COVID-19 vaccination from official government organizations or scientific journals were more likely to know in which trimester this vaccine can be administered. A higher perceived utility of this vaccination was observed among midwives working in the public sector, in those concerned by being infected by SARS-CoV-2, who have received at least one dose of this vaccination, in those who considered COVID-19 a severe disease for pregnant women and their fetus, and who believed that the vaccination is safe. One-third of the midwives routinely provided information and half recommended this vaccination. Midwives with more years of activity, who received information about the vaccination from official government organizations or scientific journals, those who had never assisted patients with SARS-CoV-2, and those who believed in midwives' role in COVID-19 prevention were more likely to routinely provide information. Participants who perceived a higher utility of this vaccination, those who believed in midwives' role in COVID-19 prevention, those who received information from official government organizations or scientific journals were more likely to routinely provide a recommendation for the vaccine. Midwives' knowledge must be improved for ensuring that they communicate and recommend the vaccination to their patients.