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A population-based paediatric Covid-19 vaccination progress and outcomes: The Malta case
S Cuschieri1, S Agius2, J Souness3
1Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
Insights
Malta
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Pediatric Vaccinology
Background:
- COVID-19 remains a global pandemic, with childhood vaccination crucial for pandemic control.
- This study examines Malta's national pediatric vaccination strategy, uptake, and epidemiological trends.
- Geographical social inequalities in vaccination among children under 15 were explored up to August 2022.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Malta's pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program.
- To assess vaccination uptake and epidemiological trends in children.
- To identify geographical disparities in pediatric vaccination coverage.
Main Methods:
- Data on vaccination doses by age and district were obtained from Malta's Vaccination Coordination Unit.
- Descriptive statistics and multivariant logistic regression analyses were employed.
- Anonymized data were used to ensure patient privacy.
Main Results:
- By mid-August 2022, 44.18% of children under 15 received at least one vaccine dose.
- A bidirectional relationship existed between vaccination rates and reported COVID-19 cases until early 2022.
- Full vaccination uptake was highest in the Southern Harbour district (46.66%) and lowest in Gozo (27.23%).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric vaccination success depends on accessibility, vaccine effectiveness, and population characteristics.
- Geographical social inequalities can significantly hinder vaccination uptake.
- Targeted interventions may be needed to address disparities in pediatric vaccination coverage.
Background:
Covid-19 is still pandemic with population vaccination, including among children, remaining the mainstay for hastening the exit from the pandemic. The article provides an insight in Malta's national paediatric vaccination modus operandi, vaccination uptake, and epidemiological trends while exploring geographical social inequalities among the ≤ 15 years cohort up till end of August 2022.
Methods:
The Vaccination Coordination Unit in Malta's only regional hospital provided an account of the strategic roll-out along with anonymised cumulative vaccination doses by age band and district. Descriptive and multivariant logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results:
By mid-August 2022, 44.18% of the under 15's population had received at least 1 vaccine dose. A bi-directional relationship was observed between increased cumulative vaccination and reported Covid-19 cases until early 2022. Central vaccination hubs were set up with invitation letters and SMSs sent to parents. Children residing in the Southern Harbour district (OR: 0.42, P < 0.01) had the highest full vaccination uptake (46.66%) as opposed to the Gozo district (lowest at 27.23%; OR: 0.3, P = 0.01).
Conclusion:
Successful paediatric vaccination is not only dependent on easily accessible vaccination but also on vaccine effectiveness against variants, as well as population characteristics, with potential geographical social inequalities hindering uptake.
