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. 2023 Feb:128:49-54.
doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.11.006. Epub 2022 Nov 18.

The Italian policy of mandating SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for healthcare workers: Analysis of the policy processes and preliminary outcomes

Costanza Vicentini  1 , Giacomo Garzaro  2 , Alessandro Roberto Cornio  2 , Davide Bosio  2 , Enrico Bergamaschi  2 , Giovanna Pacchiana Parravicini  3 , Carla Maria Zotti  2
Affiliations

The Italian policy of mandating SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for healthcare workers: Analysis of the policy processes and preliminary outcomes

Costanza Vicentini et al. Health Policy. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Italy experienced the first outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Europe, and was among the most hardly hit European countries. Growing evidence suggests healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Infection in HCWs can lead to cross-transmission and increase community transmission. Italy was the first country in Europe to introduce mandatory vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 for HCWs, on April 1, 2021.

Aim: To describe the policy processes and preliminary results of the introduction of compulsory vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 for HCWs in Italy.

Results and conclusion: In Italy, the adoption of the policy was possible in the context of the public health and economic crisis resulting from the pandemic, with support from the scientific community and among favorable political conditions. Preliminary data suggest the policy has so far had a positive impact on increasing vaccine uptake and lowering infection rates among HCWs. Hopefully, the lack of serious vaccine-related adverse events and the growing evidence on vaccine effectiveness will progressively strengthen vaccine confidence among HCWs. In the context of a global pandemic, the Italian experience could provide insight for policymakers in other countries considering similar policies. Further, the ethical, legal, and policy challenges raised by the current public health emergency could be used to inform future pandemic preparedness plans.

Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Italy; Mandatory vaccinations; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccine hesitancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The Authors have no conflict to declare.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Positions of actors and stakeholders towards the policy of compulsory SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for HCWs and respective political influence, Italy 2021.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Number of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 per day among healthcare workers (HCWs) and the general population in Italy, January 2020 – July 2021. Legend: Figure adapted from https://covid19.infn.it/ (CC BY-SA 4.0).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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