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. 2023 Oct 16;11(10):1601.
doi: 10.3390/vaccines11101601.

Increasing Influenza Vaccination Uptake by Sending Reminders: A Representative Cross-Sectional Study on the Preferences of Italian Adults

Alexander Domnich  1 , Riccardo Grassi  2 , Elettra Fallani  3   4 , Giulia Costantini  2 , Donatella Panatto  5   6 , Matilde Ogliastro  5 , Marco Salvatore  3 , Maura Cambiaggi  3 , Alessandro Vasco  3 , Andrea Orsi  1   5   6 , Giancarlo Icardi  1   5   6
Affiliations

Increasing Influenza Vaccination Uptake by Sending Reminders: A Representative Cross-Sectional Study on the Preferences of Italian Adults

Alexander Domnich et al. Vaccines (Basel). .

Abstract

Evidence from countries that achieved a high seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) coverage suggests that reminders to get vaccinated may increase SIV uptake. The goal of this study was to explore the experience and attitudes of Italian adults toward an active invitation to receive SIV, triggered by different sources and delivered via different communication channels, and to assess the projected benefits of this strategy. A cross-sectional survey on a representative sample of Italian adults was conducted by using computer-assisted web interviewing. Responses from 2513 subjects were analyzed. A total of 52.2% of individuals previously received invitations to undergo SIV and compared with people who did not receive any reminder were three times more likely (68.2% vs. 22.2%) to be vaccinated in the last season. Compared with other sources, reminders sent by general practitioners (GPs) were perceived as the most attractive. As for communication channels, most participants preferred text/instant messaging (24.6%) or email (27.2%), suggesting an acceleration in the Italian digital transformation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, traditional postal letters or phone calls were preferred by only 17.0% and 8.6% of respondents, respectively. Reminders sent by GPs via text/instant messages or email are a valuable option for increasing SIV uptake among Italian adults.

Keywords: Italy; influenza; influenza vaccine; remainder; survey; vaccination; vaccination uptake.

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Conflict of interest statement

E.F., M.S., M.C., and A.V. are full-time employees of CSL Seqirus, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures and markets influenza vaccines and were involved in all steps of the study. A.D. was previously a full-time employee of Seqirus. R.G. and G.C. are full-time employees of SWG S.p.A., a company that performs market surveys, opinion and institutional polls, sector studies, and monitoring. D.P., M.O., A.O., and G.I. declare no conflicts of interest regarding this publication.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of the participants’ judgments on the sources of personal reminders to get influenza vaccination (N = 2513).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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