Rome, June 14 (beraking latest news Salute) – Italians’ confidence in vaccinations has increased with the Covid-19 pandemic: more than 9 out of 10 citizens believe vaccines are safe and effective tools. Among the hesitant, 1 in 2 declares themselves open to re-evaluate their choices. Greater dialogue with doctors and pharmacists, clear and transparent information / communication from institutions, the increase in places of administration (pharmacy, workplace and school) and incentives are the factors that emerge as determining factors for increasing the propensity to get vaccinated, even among the hesitant. This is what emerges from the survey, conducted on a sample of 2 thousand citizens, carried out by The European House-Ambrosetti and by the Interdepartmental Center for Ethics and Integrity in Research of the National Research Council (Cnr), in collaboration with Swg, presented in Rome during an event organized by The European House – Ambrosetti with the non-conditioning contribution of Pfizer.
The survey therefore revealed that 92% believe that vaccines are a safe and effective health tool to combat infectious diseases and that for 33% of respondents the level of confidence during the pandemic has increased, especially in men, in the Regions. of the South and among Generation Z. Positive signs also in view of the resumption of the anti-Covid vaccination campaign next autumn: 77% are in favor of the fourth dose of the anti-Covid vaccination next autumn and 17% of those who do not he is still vaccinated and is open to doing so.
The data on influenza vaccination are also encouraging, with 95% of subjects who were vaccinated in the last season declaring themselves in favor of repeating the administration. It also emerged that 88% of the interviewees feel informed about vaccines, preferring their doctor, the opinion of scientists and institutional websites as sources of information; informal information channels, such as friends and relatives and social media / forums / blogs, remain the most used sources by those who are more skeptical of vaccinations.
The knowledge of compulsory vaccinations is also good, while that relating to the other recommended vaccines is poor: 98% of the interviewees say they are aware of the existence of compulsory vaccinations in pediatric age but only 76% remember at least some of them, values that go down respectively 94% and 63% for vaccinations recommended in childhood. In both cases, the most informed are people with minor children and women. The law on compulsory vaccines for the 0-16 year old age group and the numerous awareness-raising initiatives carried out have certainly contributed to increasing the level of knowledge of pediatric vaccinations with consequent coverage rates which, although decreasing during the pandemic, remain on values higher than 90%.
The situation of adolescent and adult vaccinations is different. Only 34% said they had vaccinated against the papilloma virus (in the 18-30 age group), only 28% against pneumococcus (in the 60-70 age group), only 11% against herpes zoster (in the age group 60-70 years). “The survey provides some important indications on the levers on which to act to improve the knowledge and, consequently, the trust of citizens towards vaccination prevention”, says Daniela Bianco, partner and head of the Healthcare area of The European House – Ambrosetti. “Furthermore, 1 in 2 of the hesitant and opposed to certain vaccinations such as the anti-pneumococcal, anti-herpes-zoster and anti-papilloma virus are willing to learn more before making a decision. Therefore, the need to increase efforts emerges. in communication to increase the level of knowledge of citizens also about these vaccinations “.
And again: 83% of respondents state that they know people who hesitate or refuse to get vaccinated: if 26% hesitate or refuse to get vaccinated for all vaccines in general, 57% are only in reference to the anti-Covid vaccine. The perceived obstacles to vaccination are essentially: the fear of health risks and information gaps (incorrect or missing information). Even among the subjects who declared that they do not consider vaccines safe and effective and those not vaccinated against Covid, the fear related to safety is confirmed as the main reason for non-vaccination, followed by doubts regarding the trials.
Among the tools that, according to the citizens themselves – emerges from the survey – can contribute to increasing the level of trust in vaccination programs, include: greater dialogue with their trusted doctor or pharmacist, greater transparency of the institutions that they deal with health and more frequent information campaigns by health institutions; greater dialogue and better information are also judged to be the most effective tools for making people who hesitate or refuse to get vaccinated change their minds.
The increase in the points of administration of vaccinations also makes it possible to bring citizens closer to vaccination prevention: especially pharmacies but also study and work places are the most popular; even among those who are less favorable to vaccines or have not been vaccinated against Covid, the pharmacy is considered an appropriate place for the administration of vaccines.
“55% of the interviewees also open to economic incentives, primarily free medical check-ups and exams and bonuses for gyms and sports centers, tools that in addition to increasing the level of citizens’ confidence also have a role in activating economic activity” , says Andrea Grignolio, head of the Vaccine Hesitancy Forum of the Interdepartmental Center for Ethics and Integrity in Research of the Cnr. “These are proactive tools aimed at obtaining greater vaccination compliance that could complement those already in use such as disincentives and penalties and that would bring Italian vaccination policies into line with those promoted by many other countries”.