Vaccination Coverage during Childhood and Adolescence among Undergraduate Health Science Students in Greece (original) (raw)
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Vaccination coverage among adolescents in certain provinces of Greece
Acta Paediatrica, 2005
Aim: To estimate the vaccination coverage in a sample of adolescents in Greece. Methods: Vaccination status was estimated in 483 adolescents aged 15-19 y in four prefectures. The criteria for full vaccination were based on the recommendations of the Greek National Vaccination Schedule. Results: The participation rate in the study was 78.7% (380/483 adolescents). The rates of full vaccination were 94.2% for poliomyelitis, 78.4% for hepatitis B, 77.4% for BCG, 65.0% for tetanus and 54.4% for diphtheria. The rates of full vaccination for measles, rubella and mumps were 65.0%, 57.6%, and 56.0%, respectively. For pertussis, the full vaccination rate was only 36.0%, and 7.1% of the study population was totally unvaccinated. The most missed dose for all vaccines was the final booster dose, which is usually administered in older children or adolescents.
BMC Public Health, 2013
Background: In Greece, several new childhood vaccines were introduced recently but were reimbursed gradually and at different time points. The aim of this study was to assess immunization coverage and identify factors influencing complete and age-appropriate vaccination among children attending public nurseries in the municipal district of Athens. Methods: A cross-sectional study, using stratified sampling was performed. Immunization history was obtained from vaccination booklets. Demographic and socioeconomic data were obtained from school registries and telephone interviews. Vaccination rates were estimated by sample weighted proportions while associations between complete and age-appropriate immunization and potential determinants by logistic regression analysis.
Predictors Of Childhood Vaccination Uptake: A Cross-sectional Study In Greece
Procedia in Vaccinology
To enhance vaccine uptake and implement appropriate interventions, factors influencing immunization status of children should be identified and addressed. We conducted a cross-sectional study among children attending the first year of the Greek Grammar school (about 6 years of age) and their parents/guardians to identify predictive factors of complete and age-appropriate vaccination status. The country was stratified into 6 regions and each region was subdivided into urban and rural areas. Each cluster contained a school classroom randomly selected from each region. All 4,390 pupils of the selected clusters were asked to provide their vaccination booklet and their parents/guardians were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding beliefs and attitudes towards immunization. Weighted proportions, Relative Risks (RR) and 95% Confidence Internals (95%CI) were estimated in a way that allowed for the stratification and the clustering of the sample. Of all 3,878 (88.3%) participant children, 63.9% (95%CI 61.4%-66.3%) had received all the recommended vaccines and 52.1% (95%CI 49.5%-54.8%) were up-to-date. Belonging to a minority group (adjusted-RR 0.53; 95%CI 0.45-0.64, adjusted-RR 0.41; 95%CI 0.32-0.53), having other siblings (adjusted RR 0.73; 95%CI 0.62-0.84, adjusted-RR 0.71; 95%CI 0.59-0.81), and perceiving long distance to immunization site as a barrier (adjusted-RR 0.93; 95%CI 0.86-1.01, adjusted-RR 0.87; 95%CI 0.76-0.99) were independent predictors of both complete and age-appropriate vaccination status in the final regression models, respectively. Maternal age 30 years (adjusted-RR 1.14; 95%CI 1.02-1.28) and the perception of less severity of vaccine preventable diseases (adjusted-RR 0.92; 95%CI 0.85-0.99) were associated with complete vaccination, whereas paternal education of high school or higher (adjusted-RR 1.13; 95%CI 1.03-1.24) was the other independent determinant of ageappropriate immunization.Socioeconomic factors rather than parental beliefs and attitudes towards immunization explained underimmunization. Further interventions are warranted to enhance vaccine uptake in high-risk groups identified in this study.
Vaccine, 2010
To identify predictive factors of complete and age-appropriate vaccination status in Greece, we conducted a cross-sectional study, using stratified cluster sampling, among children attending the first year of the Greek Grammar school (about 6 years of age) and their parents/guardians. Almost 88% (N = 3878) of pupils in the selected clusters (school classrooms) provided their vaccination booklet and their parents/guardians completed a questionnaire regarding beliefs and attitudes towards immunization. Belonging to a minority group, having other siblings and perceiving long distance to immunization site as a barrier were independent predictors of both incomplete and delayed vaccination status in the final logistic regression model. Maternal age ≥ 30 years and the perception that natural disease is preferable to vaccination were associated with complete vaccination, whereas paternal education of high school or higher was the other independent determinant of age-appropriate immunization. Socioeconomic factors rather than parental beliefs and attitudes towards immunization explained underimmunization. Further interventions are warranted to enhance vaccine coverage in high-risk groups identified in this study.
Vaccination Coverage of the Elderly in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Study
Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, 2020
Vaccines are important for older adults, and the morbidity and mortality of vaccine-preventable diseases among older adults are high. There are limited data on vaccination coverage among elderly people in Greece. The aim of this observational study was to record the vaccination coverage for vaccines recommended by the National Vaccination Program in Greece for the elderly people ≥60 years old. Two hundred general practitioners (GPs) around the country from the primary healthcare system were invited to “participate,” and one hundred fifty from them participated in the present study. The GPs were selected using geographically stratified random sampling methodology. Two thousand and seventy-two participants participated in the present study: of which, 1043 were males and 1029 were females. The mean age of the participants was 73.3 years, and 83% vaccination coverage for flu vaccine, 49.5% for conjugate pneumococcal vaccine, and 23.5% for polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine were recorde...
Cross-sectional assessment of predictors for COVID-19 vaccine uptake: an online survey in Greece
BackgroundA high level of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the general population is essential to control the pandemic.ObjectiveTo estimate the percentage of the general population vaccinated against the COVID-19 and to investigate the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake.MethodsWe conducted an online cross-sectional study in Greece during August 2021. We included individuals over 18 years of age. Independent variables included socio-demographic data of the participants and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination and pandemic. Our outcome variable was COVID-19 vaccination status, measured through “yes/no” answers.ResultsMost participants had been vaccinated against the COVID-19 (87.8%), while about half had been vaccinated against the influenza (52.5%). Multivariate analysis identified that increased age and higher level of education were associated with an increased likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination. Also, participants working in health services, participants without a previou...
Greek nursing students' immunization coverage: Data from central continental Greece
Nursing & Health Sciences, 2008
Abstract Nursing students are at risk of acquiring vaccine-preventable diseases. To estimate the vaccination rates for nursing students, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in a major district of central continental Greece with an anonymous and self-administered questionnaire in a sample of 432 nursing students (the response rate was 97%). The eligible nursing students completed the questionnaire after informed consent was obtained. The vaccination rates of the nursing students ranged from 65.2% for the oral polio (SABIN) vaccine and 65.7% for the hepatitis B virus vaccine to 74.6% for the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. The parents' level of education did not correlate with the students' underimmunization. The t-test showed that the senior students were more knowledgeable about the compulsory vaccines. Almost half of the nursing students were somewhat satisfied with the available information on vaccination, while 9.5% were not at all satisfied and 38.5% were underimmunized. The proportion of male students who had completed the SABIN and DTP vaccination schedules was higher compared to the female students. More health education programs could increase the vaccination rates among nursing students.
Meningitis B vaccination: knowledge and attitudes of pediatricians and parents in Greece
Heliyon
BexseroÒ, a meningitis B vaccine, was recently included in the National Immunization Programme (NIP) in Greece, with restricted access to high risk groups only. To map the need to expand coverage, this study assessed pediatricians and parents' perceptions and attitudes towards meningitis B, inclusion of BexseroÒ in the NIP and vaccination uptake. We analyzed data from 201 private practice pediatricians questionnaires and 1003 parents phone interviews. Both (pediatricians 64.7%, parents 88.5%) considered meningitis B a critical challenge. 77.6% of pediatricians would prioritize meningitis B vaccination in the NIP and 90.3% would recommend BexseroÒ to parents. Of those who would not, 47% feared civil liability challenges and 11.8% hesitated to impose vaccine cost on parents. Only 28.9% of parents had their child vaccinated. Non-reimbursement constituted a major access hurdle. It is critical to expand immunization coverage in Greece through expanded access in the NIP, in line with pediatrician recommendations.
Vaccination coverage among adolescents and risk factors associated with incomplete immunization
European Journal of Pediatrics, 2011
The compliance with vaccination recommendations in adolescence has not been well documented in Greece. The aims of the present study were to estimate the vaccination coverage in a sample of adolescents and to identify risk factors associated with incomplete immunization. Α total of 1,005 adolescents aged 11 to 19 years who were outpatient visitors at an Adolescent Health Unit were included in this study. Participation required parental presence and consent and presentation of the official Child Health Booklet, from which immunizations were transcribed. The highest coverage rates were observed for childhood immunizations: poliomyelitis and hepatitis B (both 96%), measles/mumps/rubella (MMR; 93.1%), and meningitidis C (MenC; 83.4%). By contrast, lower rates were shown for the booster dose of tetanus/diphtheria/ pertussis (39.6%), for hepatitis A (HAV; 59.1%), for the varicella vaccine (13.8% among adolescents without disease history), and among girls for the human papillomavirus vaccine (11.9%). We found a significant association between age and series completion for MMR, MenC, and HAV, with lower uptake among older adolescents. Overall, 22.7% of study participants were fully vaccinated according to criteria employed. In particular, non-urban residents, non-nationals, and females had lower likelihood of being fully vaccinated. In conclusion, our findings suggest suboptimal vaccination coverage among our sample's adolescents, mandating that every effort should be made to increase uptake, particularly among the geographically dispersed and the culturally diverse and female adolescents.
Knowledge and Attitudes of School Teachers on Vaccination in Greece
Infection & Chemotherapy, 2021
Few studies have assessed attitudes and beliefs of school teachers on vaccination. Our crosssectional questionnaire-based prospective survey aims to explore vaccination coverage and relevant knowledge of school teachers in Greece. Out of the 217 respondents, 93% believe that vaccines offer protection but only 69.7% were completely vaccinated as per adults' National Immunization Schedule. In multivariate analysis, female gender, being a parent, beliefs that vaccination should be mandatory and imposing penalties to vaccine refusals are the main factors that account for teachers' "behavioral" variability towards vaccination. Strengthening the training of school teachers in health promotion should become a priority in the era of the highly anticipated vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndromecoronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).