Between mandatory vaccination and the COVID-19 pandemic: effects on the vaccination coverage trend in a province of Southern Italy.

Background And Aim: Although vaccination is considered an extraordinarily effective and safe tool for the prevention of infectious diseases, from 2013 to 2016 CVs at national level showed a downward trend, falling well below the 95% threshold recommended by the WHO to limit the circulation of viruses and bacteria in the community and to obtain the so-called herd effect in addition to the protection of individual vaccinated individuals. The aim of the study was to assess vaccination coverage data following the introduction of Law 119/2017 and in like to COVID-19 pandemic the impact on vaccination coverage.

Methods: The study was conducted from 1 October 2019 to 1 October 2022, using the OnVac programme.