Sonia Dhaouadi
WHO recommends seasonal influenza vaccine for all pregnant women because of their increased risk for serious flu-related complications. In Tunisia, the flu vaccine uptake among pregnant women is not available. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of flu vaccine uptake during pregnancy. A Tunisian national cross sectional study was conducted at the end of 2018-19 flu season, among pregnant women of at least 18 years old, attending primary or secondary health facilities for a routine antenatal care visit, according to a self-weighted two stage sampling design. Data were collected via a questionnaire administered by interviewers in face to face encounters. The vaccination uptake was self-reported. A total of 1157 pregnant women were enrolled in this survey. The majority of them (91.4%) reported not receiving a recommendation or offer of vaccination during their current pregnancy. Overall, during the 2018-19 influenza season, only fifty-one expectants (4.4% [3.3-5.7]) get the flu shot through the time of the survey. They were aged between 25 and 34 years in 66.7% of cases and multiparous in 60.8% and less than half of them reported having prior comorbidities (45.1%) or complications (42.0%) during this pregnancy. In Tunisia, the coverage of influenza vaccine among pregnant women is very low. Incorporating routine administration of flu vaccine with cost-free access within the national antenatal care program might substantially increase flu vaccination compliance during pregnancy.
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