Abstract
Influenza immunization coverage rates remains far below the optimal value recommended by World Health Organization, even in groups considered more at risk, as elderly. A possible explanation of lacking compliance to vaccine uptake can rely on deprivation. A local deprivation index, specifically developed, was proposed for the classification of the residents in Ferrara’s municipality in order to evaluate the characteristics of over 65 people accepting/refusing the influenza immunization (2010-2015). The variables involved in the Ferrara’s deprivation index were primarily related to demographic aspects like age, being widow/widower, education, composition of the family and characteristics of the house. In groups with higher deprivation, elderly were more frequent (53.4% in very deprived). Influenza immunization coverage rates were unsatisfactory in all categories of deprivation. A decreasing trend in coverage rates with decreasing deprivation was observed with statistical significance, in general population and in males but not in females. In addition to factors composing the local deprivation index, being separated, living in a family of three members and working as independent contractor were features preventing from the immunization in very deprived elderly.
References
Zhou H, Thompson WW, Viboud CG, Ringholz CM, Cheng PY, Steiner C, Abedi GR, Anderson LJ, Brammer L, Shay DK. Hospitalizations associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States, 1993–2008. Clin Infect Dis. 2012; 54(10): 1427-36. doi: 10.1093/cid/cis211.
Demicheli V, Jefferson T, Di Pietrantonj C, Ferroni E, Thorning S, Thomas RE, Rivetti A. Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2:CD004876. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004876.pub4.
World Health Organization (WHO). Influenza. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/vaccination/seasonal-vaccination-policies-and-coverage-in-the-european-region. Accessed on 11/07/2018.
Emilia Romagna Region. Epidemiological report, season 2016-2017. Available at: https://salute.regione.emilia-romagna.it/documentazione/rapporti/rapporto-stagione-influenzale-2016-2017-rapporto-epidemiologico-conclusivo/at_download/file/influenza-report-2016-2017.pdf. Accessed on 11/07/2018.
Lillini Roberto 2018
2017-2019 National Immunization Plan. Available at: www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_2571_allegato.pdf . Accessed on 12/07/2018.