Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Italy—The 2022–2023 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Campaign in Italy: An Update from the OBVIOUS Project
Angelo Capodici,
Aurelia Salussolia,
Giusy La Fauci,
Zeno Di Valerio,
Marco Montalti,
Anna Odone,
Claudio Costantino,
Heidi J. Larson,
Julie Leask,
Jacopo Lenzi,
Lamberto Manzoli,
Davide Gori,
on behalf of the OBVIOUS Board
Affiliations
Angelo Capodici
Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Aurelia Salussolia
Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Giusy La Fauci
Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Zeno Di Valerio
Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Marco Montalti
Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Anna Odone
Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Claudio Costantino
Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Excellence Specialties “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Heidi J. Larson
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Institute of Health Metrics, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Julie Leask
School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, NSW, Australia
Jacopo Lenzi
Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Lamberto Manzoli
Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Davide Gori
Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Influenza is a significant public health concern, with Italy being profoundly impacted annually. Despite extensive vaccination campaigns and cooperative initiatives between the Public Health Departments of Local Healthcare Authorities and family physicians, low vaccine uptake rates persist. This study builds upon the OBVIOUS project, providing an updated picture of influenza vaccine uptake in Italy through a representative sample. A cross-sectional computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) survey of 10,001 Italian citizens was conducted between 31 March and 5 June 2023. Our findings underscore the negative impact of a lack of awareness that a person is in a priority group for influenza vaccination (−26.1 percentage points in vaccine uptake) and the profound influence of social circles on vaccination decisions (−5 percentage points when unfavorable). Medical professionals played a pivotal role, with recommendations from family doctors significantly promoting vaccine uptake (+20.2 percentage points). Age, chronic conditions, and socio-demographic factors also influenced vaccination behaviors. For children, parental negative perceptions regarding the flu (−10.4 percentage points) and vaccine safety (−23.4 percentage points) were crucial determinants. The present study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach addressing awareness, societal beliefs, and tailored medical advice to enhance vaccination rates and protect public health in Italy.
