Infant immunization coverage in Italy (2000-2016)

Abstract

Background: In Italy, national-level immunization polices are included in the National Immunization Prevention Plan (PNPV), whose latest edition - 2017-2019 PNPV - was finally approved in February 2017. Coverage rates are a key measure of immunization system performance; it can inform and support national and regional polices' implementation monitoring, as well as measure the impact of interventions aimed at increasing vaccine uptake.

Methods: We collected, analysed and critically interpreted 2000-2016 Italian national infant immunization coverage trends, by different vaccine, target population, and by Region. Data were provided by the Directorate General for Prevention of the Italian Ministry of Health.

Results: In 2016, none of the mandatory or recommended vaccines reached the 95% national coverage target set in the PNPV. Weighted average national coverage for currently mandatory vaccines (against Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Hepatitis B) and other antigens included in the hexavalent vaccine (Pertussis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b) ranged between 93.0% for Hepatitis B and 93.7% for Tetanus; it was lower for Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines (87.2%), pneumococcal (88.4%) and meningococcal C conjugate vaccines (80.7%), with a high degree of heterogeneity by Region. Both hexavalent and MMR vaccines coverage rates have been decreasing in the last years, respectively from 2012 (-2.8%) and from 2010 (-3.6%).

Discussion: Further efforts are needed to increase vaccine uptake in Italy, to improve data collection and reporting, as well as to fight the growing phenomenon of the vaccine hesitancy so that PNPV's objectives and targets can be met in the near future.