CHILDHOOD VACCINATION COVERAGE IN ITALY - RESULTS OF A 7-REGION SURVEY

In Italy few data exist on vaccination coverage and timeliness. We the refore carried out cluster surveys on 12-23-month-olds in nine Italian cities and regions using standard Expanded Programme on Immunization methodology. The study areas accounted for 40% of all live births in I taly in 1991. Coverage levels for the third dose of diphtheria and tet anus toxoids and for oral poliovirus vaccine, which are mandatory, exc eeded 90% in all but one area. However, less than two-thirds of the ch ildren had completed the primary vaccine series by their first birthda y. The commonest reason for failure to complete the series in time was that the child had been sick and was not brought for vaccination. For the two optional vaccines (pertussis and measles) coverage was much p oorer, ranging from 8% to 71% for pertussis and from 9% to 53% for mea sles. The commonest reason given by the mothers for pertussis non-vacc ination was that they had been advised against it, while for measles t he commonest reasons were that the child was sick and that they had be en advised against it. These findings suggest that although coverage f or the mandatory vaccines is high, coverage for pertussis and measles is very low. Additional education of physicians and mothers is needed concerning the true contraindications for vaccination. Also, in the ab sence of legislation making pertussis and measles vaccines mandatory, greater efforts are needed to convince physicians and the public about the benefits of their use.