Pregnant women's knowledge of and attitudes toward pertussis, influenza and COVID-19 vaccination.

Abstract

Objectives: Despite the robust scientific evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccinations in preventing severe illness, complications, and death, trust in immunizations has been declining, among others, in a particularly vulnerable group, such as pregnant women. This study aimed to present women's attitudes towards vaccinations against pertussis, influenza, and COVID-19 during pregnancy, their knowledge of the subject, and their motivations for getting vaccinated.

Material and methods: An anonymous, self-reported questionnaire developed for this study was distributed to postpartum women hospitalized at the Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Cracow, Poland, between February and April 2023. Participants provided sociodemographic and obstetric information, reasons for getting vaccinated or not, and their sources of vaccination knowledge.

Results: Women's primary motivation (96.4%) for vaccinating during pregnancy was to protect their children from severe cases of pertussis, influenza or COVID-19. Among the reasons for not getting vaccinated against pertussis and influenza during pregnancy, most patients cited the belief in the lack of necessity for vaccination (42.9%, 34.3% respectively), and in the case of COVID-19 - receiving the vaccine before pregnancy (27.6%). Obstetricians provided information about recommended vaccinations only to 49.3% of respondents. 64.2% of surveyed patients expressed a willingness to vaccinate their child in the future with both mandatory and recommended vaccines.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that a lack of knowledge leads to an insufficient vaccination rate during pregnancy. We see a crucial role for physicians, especially obstetricians, in providing patient information while underlining undeniable benefits of maternal vaccination to the children's health.