Impact of Actively Offering Influenza Vaccination to Frail People during Hospitalisation: A Pilot Study in Italy
Alessandra Fallucca,
Patrizia Ferro,
Luca Mazzeo,
Luigi Zagra,
Elena Cocciola,
Roberta Oliveri,
Antonino Tuttolomondo,
Alida Benfante,
Salvatore Battaglia,
Nicola Scichilone,
Nicola Veronese,
Marco Affronti,
Mario Barbagallo,
Alessandra Casuccio,
Francesco Vitale,
Vincenzo Restivo,
the AOUP Inpatient Vaccination Team
Affiliations
Alessandra Fallucca
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Patrizia Ferro
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Luca Mazzeo
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Luigi Zagra
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Elena Cocciola
Internal Medicine and Stroke Care Ward, Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. 6 D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Roberta Oliveri
Internal Medicine and Stroke Care Ward, Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. 6 D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Antonino Tuttolomondo
Internal Medicine and Stroke Care Ward, Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. 6 D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Alida Benfante
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Salvatore Battaglia
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Nicola Scichilone
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Nicola Veronese
Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Marco Affronti
Internal Medicine Unit, AOU Paolo Giaccone Policlinic, General Hospital, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Mario Barbagallo
Geriatric Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Alessandra Casuccio
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Francesco Vitale
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Vincenzo Restivo
School of Medicine, University Kore of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy
the AOUP Inpatient Vaccination Team
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Despite the worldwide recommendations for influenza immunisation, vaccination coverage for patients exposed to the highest risk of severe complications is still far from the optimal target. The need to take advantage of alternative methods to provide vaccination is essential. This study presents a hospital-based strategy which offers influenza vaccination to inpatients at discharge. This study was conducted during the 2022–2023 influenza season at the University Hospital of Palermo. A questionnaire was administered to identify the determinants for the acceptance of influenza vaccination in the frail population. Overall, 248 hospitalised patients were enrolled, of which 56.1% were female and 52.0% were over 65 years of age. The proportion of patients vaccinated against influenza during hospitalisation was 62.5%, an increase of 16% in influenza vaccination uptake among frail people in comparison with the previous influenza season (46.8% vaccinated during the 2021–22 influenza season). Factors significantly associated with vaccination acceptance were the following: to have received influenza vaccine advice from hospital healthcare workers (OR = 3.57, p = 0.001), to have been previously vaccinated for influenza (OR = 3.16 p = 0.005), and to have had a low level of education (OR = 3.56, p = 0.014). This study showed that offering influenza vaccination to hospitalised patients could be an effective strategy to increase vaccination coverage in the most vulnerable population, and these findings could be useful for planning and improving future influenza vaccination campaigns.
