| Abstract |
Introduction: People with mental health disorders constitute a vulnerable group, with higher mortality rates than those observed in the general population. Among the contributing factors are comorbidities, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and cardiopulmonary diseases, as well as an increased susceptibility to vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccines are a simple and effective means for the protection of this population.
Objective: The study of the vaccination coverage of individuals with mental illness, and compliance to the National Vaccination Program for Adults and to the recommendations of the National Immunization Committee regarding the vaccination against COVID-19.
Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study, conducted at the Psychiatric Department of Venizeleio General Hospital of Heraklion and the Mental Health Center of Heraklion from September 8th, to November 25th, 2022. A convenience sampling method was used and the data were collected via personal interview. The gathered information was cross-checked with the online prescription system and the patients’ records, whenever available. Every participant had given an informed written consent.
Results: In the study participated 361 patients. The mean age was 49.82 years (standard deviation: 14.34). The most common diagnosis was recurrent depressive disorder at 24.09%. The vaccination coverage of seasonal influenza regarding the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, was 43.21%, 39.88% and 40.72% respectively. As far as pneumococcal vaccination is concerned, 28.80% of the participants reported vaccination with the conjugate vaccine, whereas 7.75% with the polysaccharide one. The vaccination coverage against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, reached 11.08% whilst for hepatitis B, reached 5.81%. Furthermore, 27.17% of the people ≥60 years had been vaccinated against herpes zoster and as far as vaccination against COVID-19 is corcerned, the majority of the participants (66.7%) had been in addition vaccinated with one booster dose. Analyzing correlation of the various contributing factors, patients aging ≥50 years, insurance capacity, polypharmacy, non-hospitalization in a psychiatric facility and assessment by an internist during the past year, were most likely to be vaccinated for the pneumococcal conjugate and the seasonal influenza for the year 2022 vaccines.
Conclusions: No variation was found in the rates of vaccination against seasonal influenza during the 3 last years. Vaccine coverage against pneumococcus with the polysaccharide vaccine, and moreover the vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis and that against hepatitis B, were very low, leaving the under study population vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases. As far as the vaccination against COVID-19 with 1 booster dose is concerned, the observed rates were similar to those of the general population. According to the results, patients annually vaccinated for seasonal influenza during the past 3 years, were most likely to be fully vaccinated for pneumococcus, as well as with at least 1 booster dose for COVID-19. Among others, place of living and attendance of medical appointments with the help of an escort, were not found to be factors having an impact on vaccination coverage.
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