PLoS ONE (Jan 2024)

COVID-19 and flu vaccination in Romania, post pandemic lessons in healthcare workers and general population.

  • Mădălina Adriana Malița,
  • Loredana Sabina Cornelia Manolescu,
  • Viorel Ștefan Perieanu,
  • Iuliana Babiuc,
  • Elena Cristina Marcov,
  • Camelia Ionescu,
  • Irina Adriana Beuran,
  • Irina Prasacu,
  • Mădălina Violeta Perieanu,
  • Ioana Voinescu,
  • Mihaela Corina Radu,
  • Liliana Burlibasa,
  • Anca Irina Dumitrescu,
  • Mihai Burlibasa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299568
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 3
p. e0299568

Abstract

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BackgroundInfluenza and corona viruses generate vaccine preventable diseases and have pandemic potential, frequently dramatic. A co-infection with these viruses, may be a new worldwide threat, researchers name it flurona. The aim of our study is to assess flu and COVID-19 Romanian vaccination for 2022-2023 season and the factor associated with higher odds to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccine.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional observational survey was conducted in the general population; a self-administered questionnaire was used.Results1056 responders were analyzed, mean age 32.08 ±13.36 years (limits:18-76), majority, 880 (83.33%), from urban areas, 608 (57.58%), high school graduated, 400 (37.88%) parents. More than half of the responders were healthcare workers, 582 (55.11%), also considered study population. In the study group, 796 (73.37%) responders consider flurona vaccination useful; and 872 (82.57%) responders consider that no sanctions are needed for not flurona vaccinating. In the 2022-2023 season, 162 (15.34%) responders vaccinated against the flu and 300 (28.41%) against COVID-19. The factor associated with higher odds to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccine was the habit of flu vaccination: for flu (OR = 58.43; 95% CI: (34.95-97.67)) and for COVID-19 (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: (1.21-2.31)). Other factors such as having university degree (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: (1.08-1.98)) and being a healthcare worker, (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: (1.07-1.87)) were influencing factors only for adult COVID-19 vaccination in the 2022-2023 season. In the parents' group, in 2022-2023 season, only 48 (12%) vaccinated their children against the flu and 68 (17%) against COVID-19, mostly parents that vaccinated themselves, pConclusionsIn the season 2022-2023, in Romania, the vaccination against flu and COVOD-19 is low, in adults and children as well. More efforts must be done to increase flurona vaccination, public health educational programs are strongly needed. Children, that are at greater risk when co-infecting with these viruses, must be vaccinated, school vaccination programs should be considered.