Vaccination of pregnant women in France.

Vaccination of pregnant women against seasonal influenza is recommended in France since 2010. We currently do not have any vaccination coverage (VC) data to assess the implementation of this recommendation. Vaccinoscopie® is an annual study conducted online using a self-administered questionnaire. A section dedicated to parents' vaccination was included in 2014 and aimed at interviewing 300 mothers of infants aged<12 months to assess their opinion of vaccination with regard to their last and future pregnancies. The study also aimed to measure the influenza VC of these mothers during their last pregnancy. While 56% of mothers reported to have been informed of the importance of vaccination by a healthcare professional (HCP) during their last pregnancy, only 11% reported having been informed of the importance of influenza vaccination. Overall, 49% of mothers reported willing to be vaccinated during their next pregnancy to protect their baby, if the vaccination were to be recommended by a HCP. However, this rate was only 32% for influenza vaccination. In contrast, 52% of mothers reported willing to be vaccinated against pertussis during pregnancy if the vaccination were to be recommended by a HCP. The influenza VC estimates in pregnant women was 7%. Although influenza vaccination has been recommended for all French pregnant women for the past five years, HCPs rarely recommend this vaccination - hence, the low VC. Informing and raising awareness among HCPs seems to be crucial to improve this coverage.

Gaudelus J ，Martinot A ，Denis F ，Stahl JP ，Chevaillier O ，Lery T ，Pujol P ，Cohen R ... -  《-》

Attitudes and Beliefs of Pregnant Women and New Mothers Regarding Influenza Vaccination in British Columbia.

Although pregnant women have increased risks for influenza morbidity and mortality, influenza vaccination rates among pregnant women in Canada are consistently very low. This mixed-methods study investigated the attitudes and behaviour of pregnant women and new mothers regarding seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccination. We conducted a baseline survey and qualitative focus groups with 34 women (26 pregnant women and 8 mothers of newborns), with a follow-up survey to assess outcomes at the end of the subsequent influenza season. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and directed content analysis based on the health belief model. Most women did not consider influenza vaccination to be an important preventative measure to take while pregnant, although some were more willing to consider vaccination during a pandemic. Omission bias played a substantial role as justification for not vaccinating. Participants expressed confusion about recommendations regarding vaccination during pregnancy and frustration with inconsistent messages from health care providers (HCPs), particularly with regard to pandemic vaccines. Women were vaccinated when they perceived themselves and/or their babies to be at increased risk for influenza. Vaccinated women had strong normative influences (usually an HCP or a family member) that affected their decision. Intentions accurately predicted behaviour for women who did and did not intend to be vaccinated. Pregnant women did not perceive themselves to be at increased risk for influenza and did not believe that influenza vaccination was a necessary preventative health measure. A lack of safety information about vaccination during pregnancy and inconsistent messages from HCPs were barriers to vaccine acceptance. Recommendations from maternity care providers and communication about the severity of and susceptibility to influenza for pregnant women would facilitate vaccine uptake.

Bettinger JA ，Greyson D ，Money D 《-》

Maternal pertussis and influenza immunization coverage and attitude of health care workers towards these recommendations in Flanders, Belgium.

In Belgium, pertussis vaccination is recommended for all pregnant women in every pregnancy. Adults in close contact with young infants are equally advised to receive a pertussis containing booster dose. Maternal influenza vaccination is likewise recommended in Belgium in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, within the influenza season. A quantitative multicenter survey study has been performed between October 2014 and May 2015 in both postpartum women (N=823, response rate=89.2%) and health care workers (HCWs) (N=261) to assess the coverage of both vaccines during pregnancy along with the coverage of the pertussis cocoon strategy, and to evaluate the knowledge and recommending attitude of HCWs towards the maternal vaccination strategies and the cocoon strategy among surveyed women and HCWs. Overall coverage of pertussis vaccination during pregnancy was 64.0%. Most women were vaccinated by their general practitioner (GP) (82.4%), and most often in the third trimester (74.0%) of pregnancy. Overall coverage of influenza vaccination during pregnancy was 45.0%. Again the GP administered most vaccines (67.6%); vaccines were equally administered in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Educational level had a significant influence on both the pertussis and influenza vaccination coverage during pregnancy while working situation and parity had only an influence on the maternal pertussis vaccination coverage and country of birth only on the maternal influenza vaccination coverage. Overall, 78.4% of gynecologists and GPs recommends both maternal pertussis and influenza vaccination and 67.0% recommends both maternal vaccination strategies and the cocoon strategy. Within the group of the midwives, only 23.7% recommends both maternal pertussis and influenza vaccination and 10.5% recommends both maternal vaccination strategies and the cocoon strategy. High coverage is reached among pregnant women for pertussis and influenza vaccination. Several underserved populations of pregnant women regarding maternal immunization, are identified.

Maertens K ，Braeckman T ，Top G ，Van Damme P ，Leuridan E ... -  《-》

Cross-sectional study on factors associated with influenza vaccine uptake and pertussis vaccination status among pregnant women in Germany.

Pregnant women and their newborns are at increased risk for influenza-related complications; the latter also have an increased risk for pertussis-related complications. In Germany, seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for pregnant women since 2010. A dose of pertussis-containing vaccine has been recommended since 2004 for women of childbearing age if they have not been vaccinated within the past 10 years. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey among pregnant women in February/March 2013 to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to influenza vaccination during pregnancy and to identify factors associated with their pertussis vaccination status. In total, 1025 pregnant women participated and provided information through a self-administered questionnaire. Of these, 23.2% were vaccinated against seasonal influenza during the 2012/13 season; 15.9% during their pregnancy. Major reasons for being unvaccinated (n=686 respondents) were lack of confidence in the vaccine (60.4%) and the perception that vaccination was not necessary (40.3%). Influenza vaccination during pregnancy was independently associated with having received influenza vaccine in the previous season, having received a recommendation from a physician, a high level of vaccine-related knowledge and of perceived disease severity. In contrast, knowledge of the recommendation for regular hand-washing to prevent influenza and the perception that vaccine-related side effects were likely to occur or likely to be severe were negatively associated with vaccine uptake. Receipt of a pertussis vaccine in the past 10 years was reported by 22.5% of participants. Pertussis vaccine uptake was independently associated with living in the Eastern federal states and receiving seasonal influenza vaccination annually, while a migration background was associated with a lower uptake. To enhance vaccine uptake in pregnant women and women of childbearing age, special efforts must be undertaken to improve knowledge of both recommendations and the benefits of vaccination. Gynecologists could serve as important facilitators.

Bödeker B ，Walter D ，Reiter S ，Wichmann O ... -  《-》

Beliefs, attitudes, and activities of healthcare personnel about influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.

Çiftci F ，Şen E ，Demir N ，Çiftci O ，Erol S ，Kayacan O ... -  《-》