[Vaccination, attitudes and perception of parents. Study in the ASL of Salerno]

Despite the many advances obtained thanks to vaccination, in recent years it has been a marked drop in vaccination coverage. In fact, data show the failure in reaching the 95% of coverage, equal to the safety threshold for almost all vaccinations. This is due to the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy. Aim of this study is to describe knowledge, attitudes and perceptions respect to childhood vaccinations in a sample of parents of patients of a Free Choice Pediatrician (PLS) in the territory of Salerno Local Healthcare Service, (ASL) to assess what might be the educational needs of parents to decrease the hesitation.

A quantitative observational descriptive and phenomenological study was conducted, recruiting parents belonging to a PLS in ASL Salerno, through a questionnaire constructed ad hoc.

Parents are not always favorable to vaccination and for some vaccine they fear a bond with a pharmaceutical business. All have vaccinated their children but not for all available vaccinations. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS . Through the educational means of the PLS doubts about vaccinations are minor and the sample of children is vaccinated, although parents appear not totally supportive and considers vaccinations as a warranty by the ASL. The sample has shown a discrepancy between the health workers about the need to vaccinate or not. Hence the need to train the health care professional before and make him responsible and then inform, through a dedicated path, who should receive the vaccine.