Socioeconomic Inequalities in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Health Outcomes in Urban Italy During the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout, January-November 2021.

This study analysed the evolution of the association of socioeconomic deprivation (SED) with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes in urban Italy during the vaccine rollout in 2021. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis between January and November 2021, comprising of 16,044,530 individuals aged ≥ 20 years, by linking national COVID-19 surveillance system data to the Italian SED index calculated at census block level. We estimated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of infection and severe COVID-19 outcomes by SED tercile relative to the least deprived tercile, over three periods defined as low (0-10%); intermediate (> 10-60%) and high (> 60-74%) vaccination coverage. We found patterns of increasing relative socioeconomic inequalities in infection, hospitalisation and death as COVID-19 vaccination coverage increased. Between the low and high coverage periods, IRRs for the most deprived areas increased from 1.09 (95%CI 1.03-1.15) to 1.28 (95%CI 1.21-1.37) for infection; 1.48 (95%CI 1.36-1.61) to 2.02 (95%CI 1.82-2.25) for hospitalisation and 1.57 (95%CI 1.36-1.80) to 1.89 (95%CI 1.53-2.34) for death. Deprived populations in urban Italy should be considered as vulnerable groups in future pandemic preparedness plans to respond to COVID-19 in particular during mass vaccination roll out phases with gradual lifting of social distancing measures.

Cost-effectiveness of public health interventions against human influenza pandemics in France: a methodological contribution from the FLURESP European Commission project.

BACKGROUND: The FLURESP project is a public health project funded by the European Commission with the objective to design a methodological approach in order to compare the cost-effectiveness of existing public health measures against human influenza pandemics in four target countries: France, Italy, Poland and Romania. This article presents the results relevant to the French health system using a data set specifically collected for this purpose. METHODS: Eighteen public health interventions against human influenza pandemics were selected. Additionally, two public-health criteria were considered: 'achieving mortality reduction ≥40%' and 'achieving morbidity reduction ≥30%'. Costs and effectiveness data sources include existing reports, publications and expert opinions. Cost distributions were taken into account using a uniform distribution, according to the French health system. RESULTS: Using reduction of mortality as an effectiveness criterion, the most cost-effective options was 'implementation of new equipment of Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) equipment'. Targeting vaccination to health professionals appeared more cost-effective than vaccination programs targeting at risk populations. Concerning antiviral distribution programs, curative programs appeared more cost-effective than preventive programs. Using reduction of morbidity as effectiveness criterion, the most cost-effective option was 'implementation of new equipment ECMO'. Vaccination programs targeting the general population appeared more cost-effective than both vaccination programs of health professionals or at-risk populations. Curative antiviral programs appeared more cost-effective than preventive distribution programs, whatever the pandemic scenario. CONCLUSION: Intervention strategies against human influenza pandemics impose a substantial economic burden, suggesting a need to develop public-health cost-effectiveness assessments across countries.

Comparison of early childhood vaccination coverage and timeliness between children born to Italian women and those born to foreign women residing in Italy: A multi-centre retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Compared to hosting populations, immigrants are usually considered more vulnerable to communicable diseases, many of which are vaccine-preventable. This study aims to estimate vaccination coverage (VC) and timeliness in children born to women from high migratory pressure countries (HMPC) and to evaluate factors affecting differences with children born to Italian women or women from advanced development countries (ITA + ADC). METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data of children born in 2009-2014 and resident in areas served by three local health units in the cities of Rome (n = 40,284), Turin (n = 49,600), and Treviso (n = 20,080). Data were retrieved through record-linkage of the population, vaccination, and birth registries. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate VCs at different ages for the 3rd dose of vaccine against tetanus and the 1st dose of vaccines against measles and meningococcal group C. Factors affecting differences in VCs by citizenship were evaluated using log-binomial models. RESULTS: In Rome, VCs at 2 years of age were consistently higher in children born to ITA + ADC women than in children born to HMPC women, while differences in VCs by citizenship varied according to antigen and birth-cohort in Turin and Treviso, respectively. Where differences were observed, these were only partially explained by the mother's socio-demographic characteristics, level of utilisation of health-services during pregnancy, and maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes. Finally, we observed a reduction of VCs in recent birth cohorts (2012-14 vs. 2009-11), especially in children born to ITA + ADC women. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in VCs by citizenship were not homogeneous and varied according to geographical context, antigen, and birth-cohort. These differences are likely to be also affected by informal barriers (e.g., linguistic and cultural barriers), which should be addressed in implementing strategies to increase vaccine uptake in foreign children. Moreover, our results suggest that effective strategies to promote vaccinations in the autochthonous population are also needed.

Parental vaccine hesitancy in Italy - Results from a national survey.

In Italy, in 2016, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to estimate vaccine hesitancy and investigate its determinants among parents of children aged 16-36 months. Data on parental attitudes and beliefs about vaccinations were collected through a questionnaire administered online or self-administered at pediatricians' offices and nurseries. Parents were classified as pro-vaccine, vaccine-hesitant or anti-vaccine, according to self-reported tetanus and measles vaccination status of their child. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with hesitancy. A total of 3130 questionnaires were analysed: 83.7% of parents were pro-vaccine, 15.6% vaccine-hesitant and 0.7% anti-vaccine. Safety concerns are the main reported reason for refusing (38.1%) or interrupting (42.4%) vaccination. Anti-vaccine and hesitant parents are significantly more afraid than pro-vaccine parents of short-term (85.7 and 79.7% vs 60.4%) and long-term (95.2 and 72.3% vs 43.7%) vaccine adverse reactions. Most pro-vaccine and hesitant parents agree about the benefits of vaccinations. Family pediatricians are considered a reliable source of information by most pro-vaccine and hesitant parents (96.9 and 83.3% respectively), against 45% of anti-vaccine parents. The main factors associated with hesitancy were found to be: not having received from a paediatrician a recommendation to fully vaccinate their child [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.21, 95% CI: 2.14-4.79], having received discordant opinions on vaccinations (AOR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.11-2.43), having met parents of children who experienced serious adverse reactions (AOR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.03-2.15), and mainly using non-traditional medical treatments (AOR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.31-3.19). Vaccine safety is perceived as a concern by all parents, although more so by hesitant and anti-vaccine parents. Similarly to pro-vaccine parents, hesitant parents consider vaccination an important prevention tool and trust their family pediatricians, suggesting that they could benefit from appropriate communication interventions. Training health professionals and providing homogenous information about vaccinations, in line with national recommendations, are crucial for responding to their concerns.

Migrant's access to immunization in Mediterranean Countries.

Countries bordering the Mediterranean are part of a major migration system. The aim of this study is to assess the main access barriers to immunization of mobile populations in the region and propose an action based framework to decrease health access inequalities. A survey on formal and informal barriers to immunization among mobile communities was conducted among public health officials formally appointed as focal points of the EpiSouth Network by 26 Mediterranean countries. Twenty-two completed the questionnaire. Thirteen countries reported at least one vaccine preventable disease (VPD) outbreak occurring among mobile populations since 2006 even though their legal entitlement to immunization is mostly equivalent to the general population's. Informal barriers, particularly lack of information and lack of trust in authorities, and disaggregation of data collection are the major issues still to be addressed. Mediterranean countries need to fill the gap in immunization coverage among pockets of susceptible individuals in order to prevent VPD outbreaks. Having for the most part ensured free entitlement, introducing more migrant friendly approaches, increasing information availability among mobile communities, building trust in public health services and disaggregating data collection to monitor and evaluate service performance among mobile groups are key aspects to address in the region.

Differences in hospital admissions for males and females in northern Uganda in the period 1992-2004: a consideration of gender and sex differences in health care use.

To inform our understanding of male and female health care use, we assessed sex differences in hospital admissions by diagnosis and for in-patient mortality using discharge records for 210319 patients admitted to the Lacor Hospital in northern Uganda in the period 1992-2004. These differences were interpreted using a gender framework. The overall number of admissions was similar by sex, yet differences emerged among age groups. In children (0-14 years), malaria was the leading cause of admission, and the distribution of diseases was similar between sexes. Among 15-44 year olds, females had more admissions, overall, and for malaria, cancer and anaemia, in addition to delivery and gynaeco-obstetrical conditions (25.7% of female admissions). Males had more admissions for injuries, liver disease and tuberculosis in the same age group. In older persons (>or=45 years), women had more admissions for cancer, hypertension, malaria and diarrhoea, while, as for the previous age group, males had more admissions for injuries, liver disease and tuberculosis. This study provides insight into sex- and gender-related differences in health. The analysis and documentation of these differences are crucial for improving service delivery and for assessing the achievement of the dual goals of improving health status and reducing health inequalities.

Estimating HIV prevalence and the impact of HIV/AIDS on a Ugandan hospital by combining serosurvey data and hospital discharge records.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the disease-specific HIV prevalence in a northern Ugandan hospital and to evaluate the impact of HIV/AIDS on hospital services. DESIGN: HIV serosurvey and analysis of routinely compiled hospital records. METHODS: The serosurvey was conducted among all 352 patients admitted to the medical ward of the Lacor Hospital in March 1999 (this ward consists of 3 units: general medicine, tuberculosis, and cancer). The impact on hospital services was estimated using the hospital discharge records for all 3447 patients admitted in 1999, in combination with serosurvey data, and was expressed as the percentage of bed-days attributable to HIV-positive patients. RESULTS: The overall HIV prevalence was 42.0% (52.6, 44.6, and 13.2% in the general medicine, tuberculosis, and cancer units, respectively). The disease-specific prevalence ranged from 45-65% for patients with tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria, and enteritis. HIV-positive patients, compared with HIV-negative patients, had a higher in-hospital mortality (14.6 vs. 3.0%) and a lower average length of stay (41.4 vs. 48.9 days). AIDS cases accounted for 5.0% of hospital admissions, 4.1% of bed-days, and 11.5% of deaths. When considering all HIV-positive patients, these accounted for 37.2% of the bed-days. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of disease-specific HIV prevalence and of the patterns of HIV-related diseases is crucial for early case management. The impact of HIV-positive patients on hospital services is quite high, accounting for >1/3 of the bed-days in 1999. Providing a continuum of care through inpatient, outpatient, and outreach home care services probably represents the only means of relieving the pressure on overloaded hospitals.