Acceptability of meningococcal serogroup B vaccine among parents and health care workers in Italy: a survey

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014;10(10):3004-10. doi: 10.4161/21645515.2014.971602.

Abstract

A new meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4 CMenB) has recently been licensed. This study assessed the acceptability of 4 CMenB vaccine among parents and healthcare workers (HCWs). From May to July 2013 in Milan, Italy, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 2050 parents of infants presenting at immunization clinics for the mandatory hexavalent vaccination and submitted to 350 HCWs involved in immunization practices. 1842 parents (89.1%) responded to the survey; 64.4% of parents wanted their child to receive the 4 CMenB vaccine and 5.1% would not vaccinate their children. Multivariate analysis showed that recognition of the severity of meningitis [a life threatening vs a mild or unthreatening disease (Odds ratio (OR): 2.3; confidence interval (CI): 1.4-3.6], awareness of vaccination as a beneficial preventive measure (very beneficial vs not beneficial OR = 6.4; CI 3.0-13.7) and knowledge of the Meningococcal C vaccine (OR = 1.4; CI 1.1-1.8) were strongly associated to willingness to receive 4 CMenB vaccine. On the contrary, level of education was associated with refusal of immunization (university vs education level lower than middle school OR = 0.68; CI 0.47-0.97). Among the parents who were willing to immunize their children, 66.9% would agree with three injections to be administered during the same visit. A total of 291 HCWs (83.1%) agreed to participate in the survey; 73% considered 4 CMenB vaccine a priority in infants' immunization schedule; 26.8% of HCWs suggested the concomitant administration with routine infant immunization. Parental and HCWs acceptability of 4 CMenB vaccine was high. Increasing knowledge about meningitis and vaccine prevention might further increase the acceptability of this vaccine.

Keywords: CI, confidence interval; HCWs, health care workers; MenB, meningococcal serogroup B; MenC, Meningococcal serogroup C; OR, odds ratio; healthcare providers; meningococcal B; parents; survey; vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Bacterial Capsules / immunology
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Personnel / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / immunology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / prevention & control*
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology
  • Parents
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • capsular polysaccharide, meningococcal group B