title: [Coverage rates of influenza vaccine in Italy during the 2002/3 and 2003/04 seasons: a cross-sectional study].
abstract: The objective of this survey was to assess the level of influenza vaccination coverage in the season 2002/ 2003 compared with the season 2003/2004 in Italy, to understand the drivers and barriers to vaccination and to determine the intention for vaccination for the following winter. We conducted a random-sampling, telephone-based household survey among non-institutionalised individuals representative of the population aged 14 years and above. The surveys for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 used the same questionnaire and were subsequently pooled. Four target groups were determined for analysis: (1) persons aged 65 years and above; (2) people working in the medical field; (3) persons suffering from a chronic illness and (4) all other groups. The overall sample consisted of 4010 people. The influenza vaccination coverage rate in Italy increased from 19.6% in season 2002/2003 to 22.2% in season 2003/2004. The most frequent reasons mentioned by vaccinees to get vaccinated were advice received from the family doctor or nurse (48.9%), influenza being considered a serious illness which people did not want to contract (38.5%) and not wanting to pass the influenza bug to family and friends (29.2%). Reasons mentioned by never vaccinated people for not getting vaccinated were the fact that people did not consider it before (34.9%), the opinion that one was not very likely to catch influenza (32.2%) and influenza not being a serious illness (23.4%). Options encouraging an influenza vaccination are a recommendation by the family doctor or nurse (58.4%), more available information on the vaccine regarding efficacy and tolerance (34.4%) and more available information on the disease (24.3%). We therefore suggest that family doctors be better informed on influenza vaccine and the disease itself in order to enable them to actively inform their patients on these topics accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Sociale e Preventiva, Università di Zurigo.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Szucs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines