Vaccination of pregnant women in the Valencian Community during the 2014-15 influenza season: a multicentre study

BACKGROUND: To study influenza vaccination uptake in pregnant women from three Health Departments in the Valencian Community (Spain) during the 2014-15 flu season, to identify degree of knowledge, sources of information and attitudes toward immunization against influenza. METHODS: Multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study during the 2014-15 vaccination campaign. Vaccine coverage was determined using the Nominal Vaccination Registry (NVR). Subsequently, a telephone survey was carried out on a sample of vaccinated and unvaccinated postpartum women. RESULTS: The NVR had information on 934 (59.5%) out of 1,569 postpartum women; distribution per Health Departments was: 420 (44.9%), 161 (17.2%) and 353 (37.8%) in La Ribera, Torrevieja and Elx-Crevillent respectively. Vaccine uptake was 27.9% (n = 261). According to the “Country of Origin” variable, 77.5% (n = 724) of women were Spanish, with a vaccination rate of 26.7% (n = 193), compared to 22.5% (n = 210) who were non-Spanish, with a rate of 32.4% (n = 68). The main source of information was midwives for 83.7% (n = 159) of vaccinated pregnant women and for 44.6% (n = 127) of non-vaccinated women. The main reasons for vaccine refusal were lack of awareness (29.5%, n = 84) and not considering it necessary (25.6%, n = 73). CONCLUSION: Despite their high willingness to be vaccinated after receiving information about the flu vaccine, the vaccination coverage in pregnant women studied is still low and can be improved. Health professionals need new information strategies to extend vaccine uptake to a larger number of pregnant women in Spain. Midwife advice plays an essential role in transmitting information on influenza vaccination in pregnant women and has a significant impact on uptake.