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Drive-through vaccinations prove successful in immunizing mountain communities against tick-borne encephalitis during
Anna DE Polo1,2, Chiara Schiavon2, Marika Brancher2
1University of Padova, School of Specialization in Hygiene and Public Health, Padova, Italy.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted routine vaccinations. A novel drive-through vaccination method for tick-borne encephalitis in Belluno, Italy, successfully administered over 12,000 doses safely and efficiently.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Prevention
- Vaccinology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted routine healthcare services, including childhood immunizations, in Italy starting March 2020.
- Non-urgent and scheduled vaccinations for children aged 0-6 years were particularly affected, leading to potential gaps in public health protection.
- Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a significant concern in alpine regions, necessitating continued vaccination efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an innovative 'drive-through' vaccination strategy for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To assess the feasibility and public acceptance of a novel vaccination delivery model in a specific geographical area.
- To explore alternative methods for maintaining essential public health services amidst pandemic-related disruptions.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of a 'drive-through' vaccination service for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine in the Province of Belluno, Veneto, North-Eastern Italy.
- Vaccination administration commenced in June 2020, following a milder phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Data collection focused on the number of doses administered and monitoring for adverse events.
Main Results:
- A total of 12,152 doses of the TBE vaccine were successfully administered using the drive-through modality.
- No significant adverse events were reported following vaccination, indicating a favorable safety profile.
- There was a growing public demand for the service, demonstrating its acceptance and perceived value.
Conclusions:
- The 'drive-through' vaccination approach proved to be a safe, efficient, and successful method for administering the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine.
- This innovative model effectively addressed vaccination needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, overcoming logistical challenges.
- The positive reception suggests the potential for broader application of drive-through vaccination services in public health initiatives.
Abstract:
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted most of the routine outpatient activities in Italian hospitals and Prevention Departments, including those vaccinations which were not urgent and/or scheduled for children aged 0-6 years. Since June 2020, when the pandemic entered a milder phase, in the alpine Province of Belluno (Veneto, North-Eastern Italy), 12,152 doses of vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis have been administered by means of the innovative "drive-through" modality. No significant adverse events have occurred and popular demand has steadily grown, proving the "drive-through" approach to be safe, efficient and successful.
