Population-level benefits of increasing influenza vaccination uptake among Italian older adults: results from a granular panel model

• Main Authors: Alexander Domnich (Author), Andrea Orsi (Author), Donatella Panatto (Author), Matilde Ogliastro (Author), Alessandra Barca (Author), Fabrizio Bert (Author), Danilo Cereda (Author), Maria Chironna (Author), Claudio Costantino (Author), Daniel Fiacchini (Author), Elena Pariani (Author), Caterina Rizzo (Author), Enrico Volpe (Author), Giancarlo Icardi (Author), The FluCoV Study Group (Author), Daniela Amicizia (Author), Federico Grammatico (Author), Catia Rosanna Borriello (Author), Francesco Chini (Author), Lorenza Ferrara (Author), Fabio Filippetti (Author), Daniela Loconsole (Author), Francesca Centrone (Author), Mario Palermo (Author), Simone Pizzini (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

BackgroundThe impact of seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) on mortality is still controversial; some studies have claimed that increasing vaccination coverage rates is beneficial, while others have found no significant association. This study aimed to construct a granular longitudinal dataset of local VCRs and assess their effect on pneumonia- and influenza-related (P&I) mortality among Italian adults aged ≥ 65 years.MethodsNUTS-3 (nomenclature of territorial units for statistics) level data on SIV coverage were collected via a survey of local data holders. Fixed- and random-effects panel regression modeling, when adjusted for potential confounders, was performed to assess the association between local SIV coverage rates and P&I mortality in older adults.ResultsA total of 1,144 local VCRs from 2003 to 2019 were ascertained. In the fully adjusted fixed-effects model, each 1% increase in vaccination coverage was associated (P < 0.001) with a 0.6% (95% CI: 0.3-0.9%) average over-time decrease in P&I mortality. With an annual average of 9,293 P&I deaths in Italy, this model suggested that 56 deaths could have been avoided each year by increasing SIV coverage by 1%. The random-effects model produced similar results. The base-case results were robust in a sensitivity analysis.ConclusionOver the last two decades, Italian jurisdictions with higher SIV uptake had, on average, fewer P&I deaths among older adults. Local policy-makers should implement effective strategies to increase SIV coverage in the Italian senior population.

Item Description

2296-2565
10.3389/fpubh.2023.1224175