Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008–2019), the Rhea Mother–Child Cohort
Background: In Greece, influenza vaccination is currently recommended for children with high-risk conditions. There are limited data on influenza vaccination uptake among Greek children with and without high-risk conditions. We aim to describe the annual influenza vaccination uptake until the age of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/7/1241 |
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| author | Marianna Karachaliou Irene Damianaki Maria Moudatsaki Katerina Margetaki Theano Roumeliotaki Vicky Bempi Marina Moudatsaki Lida Vaia Chatzi Marina Vafeiadi Manolis Kogevinas |
| author_facet | Marianna Karachaliou Irene Damianaki Maria Moudatsaki Katerina Margetaki Theano Roumeliotaki Vicky Bempi Marina Moudatsaki Lida Vaia Chatzi Marina Vafeiadi Manolis Kogevinas |
| author_sort | Marianna Karachaliou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In Greece, influenza vaccination is currently recommended for children with high-risk conditions. There are limited data on influenza vaccination uptake among Greek children with and without high-risk conditions. We aim to describe the annual influenza vaccination uptake until the age of ten in a population-based mother–child cohort and identify the factors influencing vaccination rates. Methods: Immunization data from the child’s health cards at 4 and 10 years were available for 830 and 298 children participating in the Rhea cohort (2008–2019). We calculated vaccination coverage by age, winter season and among children with asthma and obesity for whom the vaccine is indicated. Univariable and multivariable stepwise logistic regression models were utilized to identify the association between several sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related variables and vaccine uptake by age four. Results: By the ages of four and ten, 37% and 40% of the children, respectively, had received at least one influenza vaccination. Only 2% of the children were vaccinated for all winter seasons during their first four years of life. The vaccination rate was highest at the age of two and during the 2009–2010 season. Vaccination rates for children with asthma and obesity were 18.2% and 13.3% at age four and 8.3% and 2.9% at age ten. About 10% of all vaccines were administered after December and 24% of the children received only one dose upon initial vaccination. Children with younger siblings and those who had experienced more respiratory infections were more likely to be vaccinated by the age of four, while children exposed to smoking were less likely to be vaccinated. Conclusions: Children in our study were more likely to be vaccinated against influenza at an early age with the peak occurring at the age of two. Nonetheless, annual vaccination uptake was uncommon. Vaccination rates of children with asthma and obesity were well below the national target of 75% for individuals with chronic conditions. Certain groups may merit increased attention in future vaccination campaigns such as children raised in families with unfavourable health behaviours. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:34:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3fc1fef2a8234ba991fbde78065a9db7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:34:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-3fc1fef2a8234ba991fbde78065a9db72023-11-18T21:41:36ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2023-07-01117124110.3390/vaccines11071241Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008–2019), the Rhea Mother–Child CohortMarianna Karachaliou0Irene Damianaki1Maria Moudatsaki2Katerina Margetaki3Theano Roumeliotaki4Vicky Bempi5Marina Moudatsaki6Lida Vaia Chatzi7Marina Vafeiadi8Manolis Kogevinas9Barcelona Institute for Global Health, 08036 Barcelona, Spain5th Local Healthcare Unit, 71307 Heraklion, GreeceDepartment of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceDepartment of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceDepartment of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceDepartment of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceDepartment of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Division of Environmental Health, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USADepartment of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, GreeceBarcelona Institute for Global Health, 08036 Barcelona, SpainBackground: In Greece, influenza vaccination is currently recommended for children with high-risk conditions. There are limited data on influenza vaccination uptake among Greek children with and without high-risk conditions. We aim to describe the annual influenza vaccination uptake until the age of ten in a population-based mother–child cohort and identify the factors influencing vaccination rates. Methods: Immunization data from the child’s health cards at 4 and 10 years were available for 830 and 298 children participating in the Rhea cohort (2008–2019). We calculated vaccination coverage by age, winter season and among children with asthma and obesity for whom the vaccine is indicated. Univariable and multivariable stepwise logistic regression models were utilized to identify the association between several sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related variables and vaccine uptake by age four. Results: By the ages of four and ten, 37% and 40% of the children, respectively, had received at least one influenza vaccination. Only 2% of the children were vaccinated for all winter seasons during their first four years of life. The vaccination rate was highest at the age of two and during the 2009–2010 season. Vaccination rates for children with asthma and obesity were 18.2% and 13.3% at age four and 8.3% and 2.9% at age ten. About 10% of all vaccines were administered after December and 24% of the children received only one dose upon initial vaccination. Children with younger siblings and those who had experienced more respiratory infections were more likely to be vaccinated by the age of four, while children exposed to smoking were less likely to be vaccinated. Conclusions: Children in our study were more likely to be vaccinated against influenza at an early age with the peak occurring at the age of two. Nonetheless, annual vaccination uptake was uncommon. Vaccination rates of children with asthma and obesity were well below the national target of 75% for individuals with chronic conditions. Certain groups may merit increased attention in future vaccination campaigns such as children raised in families with unfavourable health behaviours.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/7/1241influenzavaccineGreecechildrenasthmaobesity |
| spellingShingle | Marianna Karachaliou Irene Damianaki Maria Moudatsaki Katerina Margetaki Theano Roumeliotaki Vicky Bempi Marina Moudatsaki Lida Vaia Chatzi Marina Vafeiadi Manolis Kogevinas Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008–2019), the Rhea Mother–Child Cohort Vaccines influenza vaccine Greece children asthma obesity |
| title | Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008–2019), the Rhea Mother–Child Cohort |
| title_full | Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008–2019), the Rhea Mother–Child Cohort |
| title_fullStr | Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008–2019), the Rhea Mother–Child Cohort |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008–2019), the Rhea Mother–Child Cohort |
| title_short | Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates and Determinants in Greek Children until the Age of Ten (2008–2019), the Rhea Mother–Child Cohort |
| title_sort | influenza vaccination coverage rates and determinants in greek children until the age of ten 2008 2019 the rhea mother child cohort |
| topic | influenza vaccine Greece children asthma obesity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/7/1241 |
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