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Journal Article Epublish 9 citations

PubMed: 37515023 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071207

Vaccine Hesitancy Phenomenon Evolution during Pregnancy over High-Risk Epidemiological Periods-"Repetitio Est Mater Studiorum".

Vaccines (Basel) 11(7)

Authors: Valeria Herdea, Petruta Tarciuc, Raluca Ghionaru, Mircea Lupusoru, Elena Tataranu, Sergiu Chirila, Oana Rosu, Cristina Oana Marginean, Eugene Leibovitz, Smaranda Diaconescu

Affiliations

  • Doctoral School, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.
  • Romanian Association for Pediatric Education in Family Medicine, 021507 Bucharest, Romania.
  • Department of Physiology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.
  • Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania.
  • Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, Romania.
  • Department of Pediatrics, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, andTechnology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.
  • The Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva 85025, Israel.
  • Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 85025, Israel.
  • Medical-Surgical Department, Faculty of Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 031593 Bucharest, Romania.

Abstract

(1) Background: The recent epidemiological events were high-stress level generators for humanity, particularly for pregnant women, influencing their attitude, behavior, and decisions regarding vaccination during pregnancy or regarding their future child. The aim of this study was to analyze the anti-pertussis vaccination decision-shaping factors in pregnant women during two epidemiological periods: the measles epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Two groups of pregnant women were invited to be part of a medical education program, having as the main theme the infectious disease risks and their prevention through vaccination. Before launching the program, participants received a 12-item questionnaire. From a total number of 362 pregnant women enrolled in the study, 182 participated in 2019, and 180 participated in 2022. (3) Results: The socio-demographic data revealed that the age of pregnant women participating in medical education programs increased in 2022 by 1.7 years ( < 0.01). In vitro fertilization was reported in a significantly higher proportion (20% in 2022 vs 9.8% in 2019, < 0.01). Participation in community-initiated educational programs almost doubled during the pandemic time from 18.7% in 2019 to 33.9% in 2022 ( < 0.01). Pertussis vaccine acceptancy (VA) dropped from 85% in 2019 to 44.4% in 2022 ( < 0.01) (4) Conclusions: In this study, we reported fast-growing vaccine hesitancy and severe declared vaccine reluctance. The results of this complex long-term study, which evaluated pregnant women over several years, showed a five-fold increase in the percentage of pregnant women who disagreed with personal pertussis vaccination. This draws attention to the risks of pertussis epidemic outbreaks in pregnant women and their future infants in the first couple of months of life before the initiation of vaccination.

MeSH

Pregnant Women, Pregnancy, Education, Medical, Vaccines, Whooping Cough, Measles, Vaccination, Pandemics, Education, Pertussis Vaccine, Epidemics, Vaccination Hesitancy

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