The Influence of Introducing Free Vaccination against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> on the Uptake of Recommended Vaccination in Poland
Since 2017, pneumococcal vaccination has evolved from a recommended chargeable vaccination to a mandatory, and therefore free, vaccination for all children. While a 10-valent vaccine is commonly used, parents have the option to use a 13-valent vaccine for a fee. This study aimed to investigate wheth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/12/1838 |
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| author | Wojciech Malchrzak Mateusz Babicki Dagmara Pokorna-Kałwak Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas |
| author_facet | Wojciech Malchrzak Mateusz Babicki Dagmara Pokorna-Kałwak Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas |
| author_sort | Wojciech Malchrzak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since 2017, pneumococcal vaccination has evolved from a recommended chargeable vaccination to a mandatory, and therefore free, vaccination for all children. While a 10-valent vaccine is commonly used, parents have the option to use a 13-valent vaccine for a fee. This study aimed to investigate whether and how the introduction of free pneumococcal vaccination affected the uptake of recommended vaccination and to assess the association of chargeable pneumococcal vaccination with recommended vaccination. Data from 1595 vaccination record cards kept by six primary care clinics in urban and rural areas of Poland were collected and analyzed for children born between 2015 and 2018. Belonging to the clinic and the year of birth were the only inclusion criteria. Following the introduction of free universal pneumococcal vaccination, more children were vaccinated with the recommended vaccination (61.2% vs. 66.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.026). The most significant change was in vaccination against rotavirus (48.5% vs. 54.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.018) and against meningococcal B bacteria (4.8% vs. 17.0%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Children who received chargeable pneumococcal vaccination were also significantly more likely to be vaccinated with recommended vaccines (54.6% vs. 75.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In particular, this was the case for multivalent vaccinations—against rotavirus, chickenpox, and meningococcal C bacteria. Reducing the impact of the economic factor, for example, by introducing free vaccinations, should have a positive impact on the uptake of other recommended vaccinations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:17:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-26e82a84f8bd44e39b00c9d35bf23ba4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:17:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-26e82a84f8bd44e39b00c9d35bf23ba42023-12-22T14:47:27ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2023-12-011112183810.3390/vaccines11121838The Influence of Introducing Free Vaccination against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> on the Uptake of Recommended Vaccination in PolandWojciech Malchrzak0Mateusz Babicki1Dagmara Pokorna-Kałwak2Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas3Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, PolandSince 2017, pneumococcal vaccination has evolved from a recommended chargeable vaccination to a mandatory, and therefore free, vaccination for all children. While a 10-valent vaccine is commonly used, parents have the option to use a 13-valent vaccine for a fee. This study aimed to investigate whether and how the introduction of free pneumococcal vaccination affected the uptake of recommended vaccination and to assess the association of chargeable pneumococcal vaccination with recommended vaccination. Data from 1595 vaccination record cards kept by six primary care clinics in urban and rural areas of Poland were collected and analyzed for children born between 2015 and 2018. Belonging to the clinic and the year of birth were the only inclusion criteria. Following the introduction of free universal pneumococcal vaccination, more children were vaccinated with the recommended vaccination (61.2% vs. 66.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.026). The most significant change was in vaccination against rotavirus (48.5% vs. 54.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.018) and against meningococcal B bacteria (4.8% vs. 17.0%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Children who received chargeable pneumococcal vaccination were also significantly more likely to be vaccinated with recommended vaccines (54.6% vs. 75.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In particular, this was the case for multivalent vaccinations—against rotavirus, chickenpox, and meningococcal C bacteria. Reducing the impact of the economic factor, for example, by introducing free vaccinations, should have a positive impact on the uptake of other recommended vaccinations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/12/1838pneumococcal vaccinevaccination programvoluntary vaccination |
| spellingShingle | Wojciech Malchrzak Mateusz Babicki Dagmara Pokorna-Kałwak Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas The Influence of Introducing Free Vaccination against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> on the Uptake of Recommended Vaccination in Poland Vaccines pneumococcal vaccine vaccination program voluntary vaccination |
| title | The Influence of Introducing Free Vaccination against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> on the Uptake of Recommended Vaccination in Poland |
| title_full | The Influence of Introducing Free Vaccination against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> on the Uptake of Recommended Vaccination in Poland |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Introducing Free Vaccination against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> on the Uptake of Recommended Vaccination in Poland |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Introducing Free Vaccination against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> on the Uptake of Recommended Vaccination in Poland |
| title_short | The Influence of Introducing Free Vaccination against <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> on the Uptake of Recommended Vaccination in Poland |
| title_sort | influence of introducing free vaccination against i streptococcus pneumoniae i on the uptake of recommended vaccination in poland |
| topic | pneumococcal vaccine vaccination program voluntary vaccination |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/12/1838 |
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