Vaccine prevention at the time of covid-19: the ASL Roma 4 experience

Abstract

The end of January 2020 WHO sanctioned an international public health emergency and the Italian government issued directives with urgent measures to counter and manage the epidemiological emergency: bans, suspensions of activities have profoundly changed school, work and health social life which have an impact on vaccination prevention

Vaccinations Service (VS) of ASL Roma 4 vaccinates people of all ages and the healthcare professional (HP) noticed that the fear in the population is making the accesses less frequent and the vaccination coverage decrease and the infectious diseases will re-emerge. DPCM 4/3/2020 has established rules to contain the virus, the ASL task force and VS adopted and adapted them for a protected vaccination activity. Results Surgeries are cleaned more frequently and fomites have been removed. The rules were published on the ASL website, social networks, displayed on posters posted before entering the clinic and waiting rooms: vigilantes lets you enter without crowding the waiting room; only one parent enters; the adult enters alone; if you have a cough or sneeze cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or ask for the surgical mask, wash your hands with the disinfectant gel, sit only in the spaced chair. Inside the children find a nice poster with drawings to explain how to avoid the virus to be colored at home. Health care workers wear masks designed to calm children. As long as the epidemiological situation allows the vaccine prevention activity must be maintained. HP must give messages of trust for activities that are carried out safely. An emergency plan within the VS also provides the behavior to be used in the event that many health workers fall ill. At the time of Covid-2019 infection all forms of prevention are to be remodeled, not just vaccine prevention. Reducing the preventive actions could in a short time lead to the emergence of infectious diseases and not only with consequent important damages, including economic ones

Key messages

• Healthcare professionals must give messages of trust for activities that are carried out safely.

• At the time of Covid-2019 infection all forms of prevention are to be remodeled, not just vaccine prevention.