[Validation of the questionnaire on vaccines and hesitancy to be vaccinated in the Spanish Society of Epidemiology]. / Validación del cuestionario sobre vacunas y reticencia a vacunarse en la Sociedad Española de Epidemiología.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a survey aimed at epidemiologists to measure factors associated with vaccine reluctance. METHOD: Vaccination hesitancy refers to delayed acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite the availability of vaccination services. WHO included vaccination hesitancy among the 10 global health threats in 2019. Within this conceptual framework proposed by WHO, a committee of six experts from the Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE) designed a self-administered questionnaire to study factors associated with vaccination hesitancy in epidemiologists. This questionnaire was approved by the SEE Board, and was sent online to all members in 2019. Based on the responses obtained, the following characteristics were validated: face validity, internal validity, construct validity, criterion validity, reliability, as well as the characteristic curves of each item and the information function per item and overall. RESULTS: The final questionnaire showed two well-defined components, perception of vaccines and confidence in the transparency of vaccine data with high degrees of fit in all aspects of validation. Both components have shown that the higher the reluctance to vaccinate the better the questionnaire reports on these aspects. CONCLUSIONS: The study has allowed the development of a validated instrument in Spanish to measure the factors associated with vaccine reluctance among epidemiologists.

Validación del cuestionario sobre vacunas y reticencia a vacunarse en la Sociedad Española de Epidemiología / Validation of the questionnaire on vaccines and hesitancy to be vaccinated in the Spanish Society of Epidemiology

Objetivo: Confeccionar y validar una encuesta dirigida a profesionales de epidemiología para medir factores asociados a la reticencia vacunal. Método: La reticencia a la vacunación se refiere al retraso en la aceptación o el rechazo de la vacunación a pesar de la disponibilidad de ella. La OMS la incluyó entre las diez amenazas a la salud global en 2019.En este marco conceptual propuesto por la OMS, un comité de seis expertos de la Sociedad Española de Epidemiología (SEE) diseñó un cuestionario autoadministrado para estudiar los factores asociados a la reticencia a la vacunación en epidemiólogos/as. Este cuestionario fue aprobado por la Junta de la SEE y se envió on line a todos/as los/las socios/as en 2019. A partir de las respuestas obtenidas se validaron las siguientes características: validez aparente, interna, de constructo y de criterio, fiabilidad, curvas características de cada ítem y función de información por ítem y conjunta. Resultados: El cuestionario mostró dos componentes bien definidos: la percepción sobre las vacunas y la confianza en la transparencia de los datos sobre vacunas con altos grados de ajuste en todos los aspectos de la validación. Ambos componentes han demostrado que cuanto mayor es la reticencia a la vacunación, mejor informa el cuestionario sobre estos aspectos. Conclusiones: El estudio ha permitido elaborar un instrumento validado en español para medir los factores asociados a la reticencia vacunal entre los/las epidemiólogos/as.(AU)

Objective: To develop and validate a survey aimed at epidemiologists to measure factors associated withvaccine reluctance.Method: Vaccination hesitancy refers to delayed acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite the availa-bility of vaccination services. WHO included vaccination hesitancy among the 10 global health threats in2019. Within this conceptual framework proposed by WHO, a committee of six experts from the Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE) designed a self-administered questionnaire to study factors associatedwith vaccination hesitancy in epidemiologists. This questionnaire was approved by the SEE Board, andwas sent online to all members in 2019. Based on the responses obtained, the following characteristicswere validated: face validity, internal validity, construct validity, criterion validity, reliability, as well asthe characteristic curves of each item and the information function per item and overall. Results: The final questionnaire showed two well-defined components, perception of vaccines and con-fidence in the transparency of vaccine data with high degrees of fit in all aspects of validation. Bothcomponents have shown that the higher the reluctance to vaccinate the better the questionnaire reportson these aspects. Conclusions: The study has allowed the development of a validated instrument in Spanish to measurethe factors associated with vaccine reluctance among epidemiologists.(AU)

[Towards COVID-19 control through vaccination: obstacles, challenges and opportunities. SESPAS Report 2022]. / Hacia el control de la COVID-19 a través de la vacunación: obstáculos, desafíos y oportunidades. Informe SESPAS 2022.

In Spain, the vaccination program began in a context of high transmission and low availability of vaccines. The objective of this article is to review the vaccination program against COVID-19 in Europe (3/03/2022) and assess the obstacles, challenges and opportunities posed by the control of this disease. Five vaccines are currently available in Europe: two based on mRNA technology (Comirnaty® and Spikevax®); two based on a non-replicative vector (Vaxzevria® and Janssen); and another based on subunit S (Novavax®). Health authorities have developed comprehensive vaccination strategies prioritizing the prevention of hospitalizations and deaths. In January 2022, 90% of the population was exceeded with full vaccination and 95% coverage in people over 50 years of age. The new challenge is to achieve similar coverage in the rest of the age groups. Vaccination in children and adolescents has become a priority due to the educational and social implications derived from COVID-19 in this population. Communication strategies must be renewed and access barriers eliminated to achieve good coverage. In Spain, studies have been published that find a high effectiveness of vaccination. The main strategy for controlling the pandemic and recovering social activity is the vaccination, but everything indicates that very high levels of vaccination coverage will be necessary and to follow with the non-pharmaceutical measures. In a globalized world, COVID-19 control will only be achieved with a coordinated global strategy and technical and economic support for the vaccination strategy in resource-poor countries.

Sobre falsas creencias y tiomersal en las vacunas. Réplica de los autores / About false beliefs and thiomersal in vaccines. Reply of the authors

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Effect of antiviral treatment in older patients hospitalized with confirmed influenza.

Seasonal influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality in people aged ≥65 years. Antiviral treatment can reduce complications and disease severity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of antiviral treatment in patients aged ≥65 years hospitalized with confirmed influenza in preventing intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death. A retrospective cohort study was carried out in 20 hospitals from seven Spanish regions during 2013-2015 in patients aged ≥65 years. Hospitalized cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza were selected. To assess the association between antiviral treatment and ICU admission or death, the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression. We included 715 hospitalized patients, of whom 640 (87.9%) received antiviral treatment, 77 (10.8%) required ICU admission and 66 (9.2%) died. In the 64-74 years age group, receipt of antiviral treatment ≤48 h (aOR 0.20; 95% CI 0.04-0.89), 3-4 days (aOR 0.23; 95% CI 0.05-0.92) and 5-7 days (aOR 0.24; 95% CI 0.03-0.91) after clinical symptom onset was associated with reduced mortality. Receipt of treatment >7 days after symptom onset was not associated with reduced mortality. No association of antiviral treatment with reduced mortality was observed in the >74 years age group or with the prevention of ICU admission in any age group. Antiviral treatment had a protective effect in avoiding death in patients aged 65-74 years hospitalized due to influenza when administered ≤48 h after symptom onset and when no more than 7 days had elapsed.

La enfermedad meningocócica y las vacunas: algunas respuestas y todavía muchas preguntas / Meningococcal disease and vaccines: still many questions and some answers

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Falsas creencias sobre las vacunas / False beliefs about vaccines

Las vacunas constituyen un instrumento esencial para la prevención de enfermedades infecciosas. Sin embargo, las falsas ideas y rumores sin fundamento científico sobre eventuales efectos negativos pueden disuadir de la vacunación, con los consiguientes riesgos para la protección de la población. El objetivo del artículo es evaluar el origen y los argumentos de algunos de los errores y rumores más frecuentes sobre eventuales efectos adversos de las vacunaciones. Se presentan algunos efectos adversos claramente establecidos, así como falsas creencias sobre diversas vacunas y potenciales daños para la salud. Las vacunas, como cualquier fármaco, pueden ocasionar efectos adversos, pero los eventuales efectos adversos de los programas de vacunación son claramente inferiores a sus beneficios individuales (a los vacunados) y colectivos (a los vacunados y a los que no pueden vacunarse por razones médicas). Cualquier efecto indeseable atribuible a las vacunas ha de poderse detectar mediante sistemas de farmacovigilancia potentes y bien estructurados

Vaccines are an essential tool for the prevention of infectious diseases. However, false ideas and rumours with no scientific foundation about their possible negative effects may dissuade people from being vaccinated, with the consequent risks for the health of the population. The objective of this article is to evaluate the origin and the arguments of some of the most frequent mistaken ideas and rumours about the possible adverse effects of vaccines. Some clearly established adverse effects are presented, as well as false beliefs about various vaccines and potential harm to health. Vaccines, like any drug, can cause adverse effects, but the possible adverse effects of vaccination programs are clearly lower than their individual (vaccinated) and collective benefits (those vaccinated and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons). The possible adverse effects attributable to vaccines should be detected by powerful and well-structured pharmacovigilance systems

[False beliefs about vaccines]. / Falsas creencias sobre las vacunas.

Vaccines are an essential tool for the prevention of infectious diseases. However, false ideas and rumours with no scientific foundation about their possible negative effects may dissuade people from being vaccinated, with the consequent risks for the health of the population. The objective of this article is to evaluate the origin and the arguments of some of the most frequent mistaken ideas and rumours about the possible adverse effects of vaccines. Some clearly established adverse effects are presented, as well as false beliefs about various vaccines and potential harm to health. Vaccines, like any drug, can cause adverse effects, but the possible adverse effects of vaccination programs are clearly lower than their individual (vaccinated) and collective benefits (those vaccinated and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons). The possible adverse effects attributable to vaccines should be detected by powerful and well-structured pharmacovigilance systems.

Repeated influenza vaccination for preventing severe and fatal influenza infection in older adults: a multicentre case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of repeated vaccination for influenza to prevent severe cases remains unclear. We evaluated the effectiveness of influenza vaccination on preventing admissions to hospital for influenza and reducing disease severity. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in 20 hospitals in Spain during the 2013/14 and 2014/15 influenza seasons. Community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older who were admitted to hospital for laboratory-confirmed influenza were matched with inpatient controls by sex, age, hospital and admission date. The effectiveness of vaccination in the current and 3 previous seasons in preventing influenza was estimated for inpatients with nonsevere influenza and for those with severe influenza who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) or who died. RESULTS: We enrolled 130 inpatients with severe and 598 with nonsevere influenza who were matched to 333 and 1493 controls, respectively. Compared with patients who were unvaccinated in the current and 3 previous seasons, adjusted effectiveness of influenza vaccination in the current and any previous season was 31% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13%-46%) in preventing admission to hospital for nonsevere influenza, 74% (95% CI 42%-88%) in preventing admissions to ICU and 70% (95% CI 34%-87%) in preventing death. Vaccination in the current season only had no significant effect on cases of severe influenza. Among inpatients with influenza, vaccination in the current and any previous season reduced the risk of severe outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.76). INTERPRETATION: Among older adults, repeated vaccination for influenza was twice as effective in preventing severe influenza compared with nonsevere influenza in patients who were admitted to hospital, which is attributable to the combination of the number of admissions to hospital for influenza that were prevented and reduced disease severity. These results reinforce recommendations for annual vaccination for influenza in older adults.

A Composite of Functional Status and Pneumonia Severity Index Improves the Prediction of Pneumonia Mortality in Older Patients.

BACKGROUND: The baseline health status may be a determinant of interest in the evolution of pneumonia. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the predictive ability of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) mortality by combining the Barthel Index (BI) and Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) in patients aged ≥ 65 years. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MAIN MEASURES: In this prospective, observational, multicenter analysis of comorbidities, the clinical data, additional examinations and severity of CAP were measured by the PSI and functional status by the BI. Two multivariable models were generated: Model 1 including the PSI and BI and model 2 with PSI plus BI stratified categorically. KEY RESULTS: The total population was 1919 patients, of whom 61% had severe pneumonia (PSI IV-V) and 40.4% had some degree of dependence (BI ≤ 90 points). Mortality in the PSI V-IV group was 12.5%. Some degree of dependence was associated with increased mortality in both the mild (7.2% vs. 3.2%; p = 0.016) and severe (14% vs. 3.3%; p < 0.001) pneumonia groups. The combination of PSI IV-V and BI ≤ 90 was the greatest risk factor for mortality (aOR 4.17; 95% CI 2.48 to 7.02) in our series. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a bimodal model to assess CAP mortality (PSI + BI) provides more accurate prognostic information than the use of each index separately.

Asthma and influenza vaccination in elderly hospitalized patients: Matched case-control study in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: Influenza infection is an exacerbating factor for asthma, and its prevention is critical in managing asthmatic patients. We investigated the effect of influenza vaccination on asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza in Spain. METHODS: We made a matched case-control study to assess the frequency of hospitalization for influenza in people aged ≥65 years. Hospitalized patients with unplanned hospital admissions were recruited from 20 hospitals representing seven Spanish regions. Cases were defined as those hospitalized due to a laboratory-confirmed influenza infection and controls were matched by age, sex, and hospital. Data were obtained from clinical records, and patients stratified by clinical asthma history. Vaccination status and asthma due to influenza infection were analyzed according to sociodemographic variables and medical risk conditions. Multivariable analysis was made using conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: 582 hospitalized patients with influenza (15.8% asthmatic) and 1,570 hospitalized patients without influenza (7.9% asthmatic) were included. In the multivariable conditional logistic regression using unvaccinated and non-asthmatic patients as the reference group, vaccination significantly prevented influenza in non-asthmatic patients (aOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.88) and also showed a trend for a possibly protective effect in asthmatic patients (aOR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.34, 1.81). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that influenza vaccination could be a protective factor for asthmatic patients, although the results are inconclusive and further research is required. Practically, given the better clinical evolution of vaccinated asthma cases, and the lack of better evidence, the emphasis on vaccination of this group should continue.

Smoking may increase the risk of influenza hospitalization and reduce influenza vaccine effectiveness in the elderly.

Background: Through its effects on the immune system, smoking may facilitate influenza virus infection, its severity and its most frequent complications. The objective was to investigate the smoking history as a risk factor for influenza hospitalization and influenza vaccine effectiveness in elderly smokers/ex-smokers and non-smokers. Methods: We carried out a multicenter case-control study in the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons. Cases aged ≥65 years and age-, sex-matched controls were selected from 20 Spanish hospitals. We collected epidemiological variables, comorbidities, vaccination history and the smoking history. The risk of hospitalization due to smoking (current smokers and ex-smokers) was determined using the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with conditional logistic regression models. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was calculated using the formula: VE = (1 - aOR) × 100. Results: We studied 728 cases and 1826 controls. Cases had a higher frequency of smoking (47.4% vs 42.1%). Smoking was associated with an increased risk of influenza hospitalization (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04-1.68). Influenza vaccine effectiveness in preventing hospitalization was 21% (95% CI: -2 to 39) in current/ex-smokers and 39% in non-smokers (95% CI: 22-52). Conclusions: A history of smoking may increase the risk of hospitalization in smokers and ex-smokers. Preventing smoking could reduce hospitalizations due to influenza. Smokers and ex-smokers should be informed of the risk of hospitalization due to influenza infection, and encouraged to stop smoking. Smokers should be considered an at-risk group to be aggressively targeted for routine influenza vaccination.

Documento del grupo de trabajo SESPAS-OMC sobre iatrogenia / No disponible

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A feasibility study for 3 strategies promoting HIV testing in primary health care in Madrid, Spain (ESTVIH project).

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Late diagnosis of HIV infection is a public health problem. Framed by the international guidelines for improving HIV testing, in 2014, the Spanish Ministry of Health published a guide of recommendations to promote early diagnosis of HIV in health care settings. In the Community of Madrid, in order to implement these recommendations, we defined 3 new HIV testing strategies in primary health care. The objectives of this study were to know the interest of professionals and the acceptability for patients towards these strategies. METHODS: We performed a quasi-experimental study to assess the feasibility of the implementation of new strategies (indicator condition, risk based, and universal offer) to promote early detection of HIV infection in the framework of the ESTVIH project. The centres participating in this project were randomly chosen among centres located in the health areas with the highest incidence of HIV infection. The feasibility was assessed in 6 centres. We considered outcomes by strategy in relation to the participation of professionals (family physician and nursing) and patients. RESULTS: Overall, 56.9% of eligible professionals agreed to take part in the study; however, the percentage of professionals who recruited patients was 25.9%. This percentage was higher in the indicator condition strategy (47.2%, versus 18.5% in the universal offer and 14.3% in the risk-based strategy, P-value < 0.05). The test uptake percentage was greater than 80%, and there were no statistically significant differences between strategies. CONCLUSION: Different strategies promoting HIV testing in primary care had different acceptability among professionals and similar among patients. At the end of the ESTVIH project, these results will be complemented with others related to the contribution of each strategy to improving the early diagnosis of HIV infection.

The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing hospitalisations of elderly individuals in two influenza seasons: a multicentre case-control study, Spain, 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Influenza vaccination may limit the impact of influenza in the community. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in preventing hospitalisation in individuals aged ≥ 65 years in Spain. A multicentre case-control study was conducted in 20 Spanish hospitals during 2013/14 and 2014/15. Patients aged ≥ 65 years who were hospitalised with laboratory-confirmed influenza were matched with controls according to sex, age and date of hospitalisation. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE) was calculated by multivariate conditional logistic regression. A total of 728 cases and 1,826 matched controls were included in the study. Overall VE was 36% (95% confidence interval (CI): 22-47). VE was 51% (95% CI: 15-71) in patients without high-risk medical conditions and 30% (95% CI: 14-44) in patients with them. VE was 39% (95% CI: 20-53) in patients aged 65-79 years and 34% (95% CI: 11-51) in patients aged ≥ 80 years, and was greater against the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype than the A(H3N2) subtype. Influenza vaccination was effective in preventing hospitalisations of elderly individuals.

Factors associated with acceptance of pandemic flu vaccine by healthcare professionals in Spain, 2009-2010.

The A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus reached pandemic level in Spain in 2009, prompting a national vaccination campaign. To avoid transmission to patients, healthcare professionals' vaccination against pandemic influenza is crucial. The main objective of this study was to analyze factors associated with the failure by healthcare professionals to accept the pandemic vaccination in 2009. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of healthcare professionals in seven of Spain's autonomous regions. A questionnaire was used to collect information about personal and professional details, the respondents' flu vaccination status in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons (seasonal and pandemic vaccines), and their knowledge and attitudes. A total of 1,661 professionals completed the survey. In the 2009-2010 season, 38.2% had both the seasonal and the pandemic vaccine, 22.1% had had only the seasonal, and 4.7% only the pandemic vaccine. The strongest predictor of not receiving the pandemic vaccine was not having had seasonal vaccinations in that year or the previous year. Those who had not received the pandemic vaccine were more often female; nurses; under 45; denied contact with at-risk groups; and had negative beliefs about the vaccine effectiveness and little concern for getting the disease, being infected at work, or passing it on to patients. It would be prudent to direct preventive campaigns not only at individuals at risk of catching flu but also at health professionals with a negative view of flu vaccine, with a particular focus on nurses, who have a key role in recommending flu vaccine.

Vigilancia en salud pública: una necesidad inaplazable / Public health surveillance: a pressing need

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Asthma in older people hospitalized with influenza in Spain: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Influenza infection is an exacerbating factor for asthma, and its prevention is critical in older patients with asthma. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between asthma and influenza-related hospitalization, in Spain, of patients ages ≥ 65 years and their clinical evolution. METHODS: A multicenter case-control study was carried out in 20 Spanish hospitals during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons. Patients ages ≥ 65 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza with and without asthma were matched with controls according to the presence of asthma, sex, age, hospital, and date of hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 561 patients with influenza (15.9% with asthma) and 1258 patients without influenza (8.0% with asthma) were included as cases and controls, respectively. The adjusted risk of influenza for patients with asthma was calculated by multivariate conditional logistic regression. The adjustment variables were the following: smoker/nonsmoker, pneumonia in the 2 years before hospital admission, previous oral treatment with corticosteroids, influenza vaccination during the seasonal campaign, Barthel index (ordinal scale used to measure performance in activities of daily living), level of education, obesity, and the presence of other comorbidities. Patients with asthma presented a great risk of influenza (adjusted odds ratio 2.64 [95% confidence interval, 1.77-3.94]). Compared with patients without asthma, patients with asthma had more symptoms, and these had been present for longer before admission but presented a lower hospital or postdischarge mortality. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that asthma was associated with hospitalization from influenza A infection. Although patients with asthma and with influenza had more symptoms, hospital or postdischarge mortality was lower, probably due to a better response to medical treatment.