influenza vaccine

Estimation of populations at risk for severe influenza and vaccination coverage in Mexico, 2010-2021.

Galindo-Fraga Arturo A, Luna-Casas Gerardo G, Gasca-Pineda Ricardo R, Sánchez-González Gilberto G

Influenza remains an important cause of morbidity among populations with underlying medical conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease. This study aimed to estimate the size of populations eligible for influenza vaccination according to the Mexican Universal Vaccination Program and to evaluate vaccination coverage gaps among populations at risk in Mexico between 2010 and 2021. A retrospective analytical study was conducted using epidemiological and administrative healthcare databases from Mexican public healthcare institutions. Population estimates were constructed using prevalence-based epidemiological projections, healthcare system records, and attended patient data from populations at risk. Descriptive analyses and time-series modeling were performed to evaluate vaccination coverage patterns and healthcare demand over time. Across all analyzed populations at risk, the number of individuals receiving healthcare services was consistently lower than the number of notified cases and substantially lower than prevalence-based epidemiological estimates. Vaccination coverage varied considerably across populations at risk and remained incomplete throughout the study period. In 2021, although approximately 12.5 million influenza vaccine doses were administered among populations at risk, a substantial proportion of potentially eligible individuals remained unvaccinated. Forecasting analyses suggested a progressive increase in healthcare demand among populations at risk over time. Important gaps persist between the estimated population at risk, diagnosed individuals, healthcare utilization, and influenza vaccination coverage in Mexico. The analytical framework proposed in this study integrates epidemiological prevalence estimates, healthcare utilization patterns, and vaccination data to identify unmet vaccination needs and may support improved public health planning, prioritization strategies, and strengthening of influenza vaccination programs in Mexico and similar settings.

Impact of an Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Course on Enhancing Pharmacists' Knowledge.

Waszkiewicz Michał M, Świtalski Jakub J, Dąbrowski Piotr P, Niedzielski Artur A et al.

BACKGROUND In Poland, pharmacists have recently been authorized to administer vaccinations to adult patients in pharmacies, including influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. To obtain certification, pharmacists must complete a specialized qualification course organized by the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education in Warsaw (CPME). This study aimed to evaluate changes in pharmacists' knowledge following completion of a qualification course on administering influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. MATERIAL AND METHODS This pre-post study was conducted online between February 2024 and July 2025. Participation was limited to pharmacists eligible to enroll in the CPME course. Knowledge was assessed using an original 20-item single-choice test (1 point per correct answer) covering influenza and pneumococcal epidemiology, eligibility criteria, and the legal and financial aspects of vaccination. Analyses examined both the overall score and changes in responses to individual questions. RESULTS The study included only participants who completed both the pre-test and post-test, constituting the matched analytic cohort (n=327). The course significantly improved knowledge relative to the pre-training assessment (t₍₃₂₆₎=28.02; P<0.001; d=1.55). The effect was substantial, with a mean increase of 4.7 points across the entire test (Mdiff=-4.67; 95% confidence interval, -4.99 to -4.34). Respondents improved their scores by approximately 23% of the maximum possible score. CONCLUSIONS Completion of the qualification course on influenza and pneumococcal vaccination significantly improved pharmacists' knowledge. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess knowledge retention and determine the impact of expanded pharmacy-based vaccination services on public health outcomes in Poland.

Is the seasonality of highly pathogenic avian influenza changing?

Acharya Krishna Prasad KP, Phuyal Sarita S, Pun Sher Bahadur SB

Awareness, factual knowledge, attitudes, and acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among adult women in Palestine: a cross-sectional study.

Amro Alhareth M AM, Safadi Leen M LM, Fahoum Shahd R SR, Deeb Salahaldeen S et al.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major preventable cause of cervical cancer, yet awareness and uptake of HPV vaccination remain suboptimal in many settings. Evidence regarding women's HPV-related awareness, factual knowledge, and vaccine acceptability in Palestine remains limited. This study assessed awareness, factual knowledge, attitudes, self-reported uptake, willingness, and perceived barriers related to HPV infection and HPV vaccination among adult women in Palestine. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between October 2025 and February 2026 among women aged ≥18 years residing in Palestine. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, HPV and HPV vaccine awareness, factual knowledge, attitudes, vaccine uptake, willingness to receive or recommend vaccination, and perceived barriers. A 12-item factual knowledge score was calculated, and higher factual knowledge was defined as ≥7 correct responses. Descriptive statistics, subgroup analyses, and multivariable logistic regression were performed. Among 424 adult women included in the final analysis, 220 (51.9%) had heard of HPV and 146 (34.4%) had heard of the HPV vaccine. The mean factual knowledge score was 4.03 ± 2.72 out of 12, and 90 participants (21.2%) had higher factual knowledge. Self-reported HPV vaccine uptake was low (13.0%), whereas willingness to receive the vaccine was higher (55.2%). Lack of awareness (55.8%) and concern about vaccine safety (22.8%) were the most frequently reported barriers among unvaccinated women. In expanded adjusted analyses, prior HPV awareness, prior HPV vaccine awareness, and more supportive HPV-vaccination attitudes were independently associated with higher factual knowledge. Higher factual knowledge and supportive attitudes were associated with self-reported vaccine uptake, while willingness among unvaccinated women was most strongly associated with supportive vaccination attitudes. Adult women in Palestine demonstrated limited HPV-related awareness and low factual knowledge, together with low self-reported HPV vaccine uptake. The gap between willingness and uptake, combined with the predominance of awareness and safety concerns as reported barriers, suggests a need for culturally appropriate education, provider-led counseling, and improved access to reliable HPV vaccine information. Findings should be interpreted cautiously given the cross-sectional design and online convenience sampling.