1. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HPV vaccination coverage in the general population and in PLWHs
- Author
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S, D'Amato, G, Nunnari, G, Trimarchi, A, Squeri, A, Cancellieri, R, Squeri, and G F, Pellicanò
- Subjects
Vaccination Coverage ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Vaccine-Preventable Diseases ,Papillomavirus Infections ,Communicable Disease Control ,Vaccination ,Humans ,COVID-19 ,Papillomavirus Vaccines ,Pandemics ,Retrospective Studies - Abstract
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as a global pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic has impacted health services, including immunization programs, with a consequent reduction in vaccination coverage in those categories for which the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases is strongly recommended.We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study on the general population and on PLWHs, comparing anti-human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage data in 2019, before COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2020 data, after the announcement of the pandemic state and the lockdown and the implementation of restrictive measures to contain the contagion.Compared to 2019, 2020 data show a 42% reduction in HPV vaccine coverage in the general population and 36% in PLWHs. The greatest reduction in anti-HPV vaccination coverage occurred during periods of greatest restriction and mainly concerned the general population.The prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases remains essential. Above all, it is essential to increase and recover the anti-HPV vaccine coverage, in consideration of the data that show its preventive oncological efficacy.
- Published
- 2022