Does the availability of influenza vaccine at prenatal care visits and of immediate vaccination improve vaccination coverage of pregnant women?

Introduction: Although vaccination against influenza is recommended for pregnant women in France because it exposes them to a risk of death and severe respiratory complications, their vaccination coverage in 2016 was estimated at 7%. This study's principal objective was to assess the association between the availability of influenza vaccination at prenatal care visits and vaccination coverage.

Material And Methods: This multicenter survey took place in 3 Paris-area public hospital (AP-HP) maternity wards (A, B, and C). Only maternity ward A offered the vaccine and vaccination without charge at prenatal visits. Data were collected from parturients during 10 days in January 2017 by a self-administered anonymous questionnaire.

Results: Data from 248 women showed overall vaccination coverage of 19.4% (48/248): 35.4% (46/130) in maternity unit A, 2.7% (2/75) in B, and 0% (0/43) in C (P<0.01). After adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics, women at maternity ward A were significantly more likely to be vaccinated than those at B and C (aOR 25.52, 95%CI [5.76-113.10]). Other factors significantly associated with higher vaccination coverage were the mother's French birth (aOR 2.37 CI [1.03-5.46]) and previous influenza vaccination (aOR 3.13, 95%CI [1.25-7.86]). Vaccinated women generally considered they had received adequate information (aOR 4.15 CI [2.10-8.22]), principally from the professional providing their prenatal care. Nonvaccination was attributed to the absence of an offer of vaccination (81.5%), fear of fetal side effects (59.5%), and inadequate information (51.4%).

Conclusion: Our results show that availability of influenza vaccination, free of charge, at prenatal consultations at the maternity ward increases vaccination coverage significantly.