tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Ital J Pediatr
. 2023 Jul 21;49(1):91.
doi: 10.1186/s13052-023-01481-0. Preschool-located influenza vaccination and influenza-like illness surveillance: an Italian pilot experience
Antonella Amendola[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Elisa Borghi[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Silvia Bianchi[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Maria Gori[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Clara Fappani[SUP] 3 4 5 [/SUP], Lucia Barcellini[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Federica Forlanini[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Nicolò Garancini[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Chiara Nava[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Alessandra Mari[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Anna Sala[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Chiara Gasparini[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Emerenziana Ottaviano[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Daniela Colzani[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Elia Mario Biganzoli[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Elisabetta Tanzi[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: We describe the first school-located influenza vaccination campaign with quadrivalent live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) among pre-school children in Italy, coupled with an innovative school-centred influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) surveillance using a self-sampling non-invasive saliva collection method.
Methods: The pilot study was proposed during the 2021/2022 influenza season to fifteen pre-schools in the Milan municipality. LAIV was offered directly in school to all healthy children without contraindications. ILI differential diagnosis was conducted by real-time RT-PCR for influenza A/B and SARS-CoV-2.
Results: Five pre-schools were involved in the pilot project and overall, 135 families (31.2%) participated in the study, adhering to both surveillance and vaccination; 59% of families had an immigrant background. No pupil experienced adverse reactions after vaccination. Nineteen saliva samples were collected from sixteen children (11.8%). Six samples (31.6%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; none was positive for influenza A/B.
Conclusions: The participation in the immunisation campaign was good, considering possible absences due to COVID-19 pandemic, and the intranasal administration was well tolerated and helped to overcome parental hesitancy. Saliva sampling represented a useful tool to reduce children's stress and increase parents' compliance. The high participation of families with an immigrant background suggests that school-based interventions can represent an effective strategy to overcome socioeconomic and cultural barriers.
Keywords: Children; Health equity; Live-attenuated influenza vaccination; Saliva; School-located vaccination; Self-sampling.
. 2023 Jul 21;49(1):91.
doi: 10.1186/s13052-023-01481-0. Preschool-located influenza vaccination and influenza-like illness surveillance: an Italian pilot experience
Antonella Amendola[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Elisa Borghi[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Silvia Bianchi[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Maria Gori[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Clara Fappani[SUP] 3 4 5 [/SUP], Lucia Barcellini[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Federica Forlanini[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Nicolò Garancini[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Chiara Nava[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Alessandra Mari[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Anna Sala[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Chiara Gasparini[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Emerenziana Ottaviano[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Daniela Colzani[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Elia Mario Biganzoli[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Elisabetta Tanzi[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37480047
- PMCID: PMC10362647
- DOI: 10.1186/s13052-023-01481-0
Background: We describe the first school-located influenza vaccination campaign with quadrivalent live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) among pre-school children in Italy, coupled with an innovative school-centred influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) surveillance using a self-sampling non-invasive saliva collection method.
Methods: The pilot study was proposed during the 2021/2022 influenza season to fifteen pre-schools in the Milan municipality. LAIV was offered directly in school to all healthy children without contraindications. ILI differential diagnosis was conducted by real-time RT-PCR for influenza A/B and SARS-CoV-2.
Results: Five pre-schools were involved in the pilot project and overall, 135 families (31.2%) participated in the study, adhering to both surveillance and vaccination; 59% of families had an immigrant background. No pupil experienced adverse reactions after vaccination. Nineteen saliva samples were collected from sixteen children (11.8%). Six samples (31.6%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; none was positive for influenza A/B.
Conclusions: The participation in the immunisation campaign was good, considering possible absences due to COVID-19 pandemic, and the intranasal administration was well tolerated and helped to overcome parental hesitancy. Saliva sampling represented a useful tool to reduce children's stress and increase parents' compliance. The high participation of families with an immigrant background suggests that school-based interventions can represent an effective strategy to overcome socioeconomic and cultural barriers.
Keywords: Children; Health equity; Live-attenuated influenza vaccination; Saliva; School-located vaccination; Self-sampling.