Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy

Infectious diseases pose a significant burden on the general population, particularly older adults who are more susceptible to severe complications. Immunization plays a crucial role in preventing infections and securing a healthier aging, but actual vaccination rates among older adults and frail in...

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Main Authors: Andrea Poscia, Giulia Paolorossi, Agnese Collamati, Claudio Costantino, Daniel Fiacchini, Claudio Angelini, Roberto Bernabei, Daniela Cimini, Giancarlo Icardi, Andrea Siddu, Andrea Silenzi, Antonietta Spadea, Davide Liborio Vetrano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2330152
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author Andrea Poscia
Giulia Paolorossi
Agnese Collamati
Claudio Costantino
Daniel Fiacchini
Claudio Angelini
Roberto Bernabei
Daniela Cimini
Giancarlo Icardi
Andrea Siddu
Andrea Silenzi
Antonietta Spadea
Davide Liborio Vetrano
author_facet Andrea Poscia
Giulia Paolorossi
Agnese Collamati
Claudio Costantino
Daniel Fiacchini
Claudio Angelini
Roberto Bernabei
Daniela Cimini
Giancarlo Icardi
Andrea Siddu
Andrea Silenzi
Antonietta Spadea
Davide Liborio Vetrano
author_sort Andrea Poscia
collection DOAJ
description Infectious diseases pose a significant burden on the general population, particularly older adults who are more susceptible to severe complications. Immunization plays a crucial role in preventing infections and securing a healthier aging, but actual vaccination rates among older adults and frail individuals (OAFs) remains far from recommended targets. This study aims to collect and share good practices implemented in several Italian local health districts during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to ease routine immunization for OAFs. A 28-items questionnaire has been developed to collect information on organization aspect of immunization services and local good practices implemented before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Twelve Public Health managers representative of 9 Italian Regions were further interviewed between January and March 2021. Despite literature suggests several effective interventions to increase vaccine demand, improve vaccine access, and enhance healthcare providers’ performance, our survey highlighted substantial heterogeneity in their implementation at local level. Seven good local practices have been identified and described: mass vaccination centers; vaccination mobile units; drive-through vaccination; co-administration; tailored pathways; cooperation among providers involved in vaccination; digitization. Our survey pointed out valuable strategies for enhancing routine immunization for OAFs. Providers should combine effective interventions adequate to their specific context and share good practices.
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spelling doaj-art-e696c48b037543a7a785b96e2a1cbb9a2025-08-20T02:16:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2024-12-0120110.1080/21645515.2024.2330152Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in ItalyAndrea Poscia0Giulia Paolorossi1Agnese Collamati2Claudio Costantino3Daniel Fiacchini4Claudio Angelini5Roberto Bernabei6Daniela Cimini7Giancarlo Icardi8Andrea Siddu9Andrea Silenzi10Antonietta Spadea11Davide Liborio Vetrano12Public Health Department, AST Ancona, Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, Ancona, ItalyGeriatricin Ambulatory Specialist - AST Ancona,Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyPublic Health Department, AST Ancona, Ancona, ItalyPublic Health Department, AST Ascoli Piceno, Ascoli Piceno, ItalyDepartment of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyPublic Health Department, AST Ancona, Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyGeneral Directorate for Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Ministero della Salute, Rome, ItalyGeneral Directorate for Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Ministero della Salute, Rome, ItalyUOC Vaccinations, Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority Roma1, Rome, ItalyAging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenInfectious diseases pose a significant burden on the general population, particularly older adults who are more susceptible to severe complications. Immunization plays a crucial role in preventing infections and securing a healthier aging, but actual vaccination rates among older adults and frail individuals (OAFs) remains far from recommended targets. This study aims to collect and share good practices implemented in several Italian local health districts during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to ease routine immunization for OAFs. A 28-items questionnaire has been developed to collect information on organization aspect of immunization services and local good practices implemented before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Twelve Public Health managers representative of 9 Italian Regions were further interviewed between January and March 2021. Despite literature suggests several effective interventions to increase vaccine demand, improve vaccine access, and enhance healthcare providers’ performance, our survey highlighted substantial heterogeneity in their implementation at local level. Seven good local practices have been identified and described: mass vaccination centers; vaccination mobile units; drive-through vaccination; co-administration; tailored pathways; cooperation among providers involved in vaccination; digitization. Our survey pointed out valuable strategies for enhancing routine immunization for OAFs. Providers should combine effective interventions adequate to their specific context and share good practices.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2330152Infectious diseasesvaccination coverageolder adultsfrailSARS-CoV-2pandemic
spellingShingle Andrea Poscia
Giulia Paolorossi
Agnese Collamati
Claudio Costantino
Daniel Fiacchini
Claudio Angelini
Roberto Bernabei
Daniela Cimini
Giancarlo Icardi
Andrea Siddu
Andrea Silenzi
Antonietta Spadea
Davide Liborio Vetrano
Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Infectious diseases
vaccination coverage
older adults
frail
SARS-CoV-2
pandemic
title Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy
title_full Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy
title_fullStr Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy
title_short Enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals: Good practices during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy
title_sort enhancing routine immunization efforts for older adults and frail individuals good practices during the sars cov 2 pandemic in italy
topic Infectious diseases
vaccination coverage
older adults
frail
SARS-CoV-2
pandemic
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2330152
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