Knowledge and Attitudes about the Flu Vaccine among Pregnant Women in the Valencian Community (Spain)

• Main Authors: Noelia Rodríguez-Blanco, José Tuells
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
• Series: Medicina
• Subjects: influenza; pregnancy; immunization; vaccine coverage; acceptability; vaccine hesitancy
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/55/8/467

<i>Background and Objectives:</i> To describe the knowledge and attitudes related to the acceptance of the flu vaccine during pregnancy in women, from two Health Departments of the Valencian Community (VC), during the 2015&#8722;2016 season, after receiving prenatal care. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A prospective observational study was conducted during the annual vaccine season of women ascribed to prenatal care. A midwife offered flu vaccine advice and afterwards conducted a telephone poll of a representative sample, in order to find out the reason for accepting or rejecting the vaccine. <i>Results:</i> Of the 1017 expectant women who received advice about the vaccine, 77.4% (95% CI: 74.8&#8722;79.9%) declared their intention to vaccinate. After the recommendation, the vaccine coverage was 61.6%, with a percentage of accordance of 98.8% (95% CI: 98.0&#8722;99.6%) between the coverage declared and the Nominal Vaccination Registry (NVR) of the VC. Additionally, 67.2% of the expectant women were interviewed (<i>n</i> = 683). Most were aware of the recommendation and identified the health center and the midwife as the main sources of information. The internet was a consistent source in favor of vaccination 80.8% (<i>n</i> = 42). The obstetric variables (risk during the pregnancy, end of pregnancy, and feeding the newborn) did not have a statistically significant relationship with the vaccination. The women declared a high adherence to the vaccinations present in the child vaccination calendar, but rejected (31.3%) the flu vaccine, as they had not received it previously and did not want it because of their expectant state. <i>Conclusions:</i> The women positively evaluated the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines. However, with the flu vaccine, &#8220;not being previously vaccinated&#8221; and the &#8220;doubts about its safety&#8221; represented more than half of the reasons put forth for its rejection. Ensuring that the flu vaccine is perceived as more effective and acceptable through the messages directed towards the expectant mothers, directly through the midwives or through the communication media and social networks, will result in an increase of vaccine coverage.