Italian survey on maternal acceptance and views on RSV vaccination during pregnancy

Passive immunization plays a pivotal role in prenatal care. This study aimed to assess maternal awareness, knowledge, and adherence to vaccinations during pregnancy, specifically for pertussis, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), while also evaluating how the approval of the RSV vaccine during pregnancy has been received by women and healthcare professionals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Mangiagalli Hospital in Milan between August and November 2024. Pregnant women were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire regarding socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases, and vaccination acceptance. Multivariate logistic regression examined associations between socioeconomic factors and vaccination behavior. A total of 390 participants were considered for final analysis. 89.7% of women had received or would receive the pertussis vaccine, 72.3% the influenza vaccine (P<.001), and 74.9% the RSV vaccine (P<.001). Education, employment status, and number of children were significantly associated with higher vaccination rates. The gynecologist was the primary source of information for most women (60.5%). Barriers to vaccination included a lack of prior discussion with healthcare providers and concerns about vaccine safety. Nevertheless, 83.8% of women would be favorable to receiving all vaccines together and 86.4% would prefer receiving the vaccine themselves rather than having monoclonal antibodies administered to their neonates. Maternal education and effective communication with healthcare providers are crucial in improving vaccination acceptance during pregnancy. Personalizing vaccination counseling for women with lower educational levels and those expecting their first child is essential.