{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T11:09:38Z","timestamp":1782731378849,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,12]],"date-time":"2023-01-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1673481600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"University of West Attica"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Vaccines"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Immunizations during pregnancy are an important aspect of perinatal care. Although the influenza vaccine during pregnancy is safe, vaccination rates are low. According to research data, one of the reasons for the low vaccination rates among pregnant women is that they do not receive a clear recommendation from healthcare providers. This study aims to record the knowledge and attitudes about influenza vaccination and investigate healthcare professionals\u2019 recommendations during the perinatal period. A cross-sectional study was conducted with convenience sampling in Athens, Greece. Our purposive sample included 240 midwives, Ob\/Gs, and pediatricians. Data were collected using an appropriate standardized questionnaire with information about demographics, attitudes towards influenza vaccination, and knowledge about the influenza virus and peripartum vaccination. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS-Statistics version 26.0. This study identifies the reasons for the lack of vaccine uptake including a wide range of misconceptions or lack of knowledge about influenza infection, lack of convenient access to get vaccinated, etc. Misconceptions about influenza and influenza vaccines could be improved by better education of healthcare workers. Continuing professional education for health professionals is necessary to improve the level of knowledge, prevent negative beliefs, and promote preventive and therapeutic practices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines11010168","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,13]],"date-time":"2023-01-13T02:05:52Z","timestamp":1673575552000},"page":"168","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Knowledge and Attitudes of Healthcare Professionals Regarding Perinatal Influenza Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Chrysoula","family":"Taskou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Midwifery Department, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3316-8566","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antigoni","family":"Sarantaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Midwifery Department, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5639-0528","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Apostolos","family":"Beloukas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Molecular Microbiology & Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece"},{"name":"National AIDS Reference Centre of Southern Greece, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0772-811X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vasiliki \u0395.","family":"Georgakopoulou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Infectious Diseases-COVID-19 Unit, Laiko General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Georgios","family":"Daskalakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3565-4066","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Petros","family":"Papalexis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit of Endocrinology, 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aikaterini","family":"Lykeridou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Midwifery Department, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e238","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(20)30484-9","article-title":"Comparing SARS-CoV-2 with SARS-CoV and influenza pandemics","volume":"20","author":"Petersen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4895","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2010.05.031","article-title":"The 2009A (H1N1) influenza virus pandemic: A review","volume":"28","author":"Girard","year":"2010","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"931","DOI":"10.1038\/nature08157","article-title":"Emergence and pandemic potential of swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus","volume":"459","author":"Neumann","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1078","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jis450","article-title":"Longitudinal study of influenza molecular viral shedding in Hutterite communities","volume":"206","author":"Loeb","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"840","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2016.0921","article-title":"Duration of infant protection against influenza illness conferred by maternal immunization: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial","volume":"170","author":"Nunes","year":"2016","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2001-17861","article-title":"Immunological tolerance of the human fetus","volume":"18","author":"Gaunt","year":"2001","journal-title":"Am. J. Perinatol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2016.12.012","article-title":"Pregnancy as a risk factor for severe outcomes from influenza virus infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies","volume":"35","author":"Mertz","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(09)61304-0","article-title":"H1N1 2009 influenza virus infection during pregnancy in the USA","volume":"374","author":"Jamieson","year":"2009","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"m2107","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.m2107","article-title":"Characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women admitted to hospital with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK: National population-based cohort study","volume":"369","author":"Knight","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"f5061","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.f5061","article-title":"Populations at risk for severe or complicated influenza illness: Systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"347","author":"Mertz","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0528.14143","article-title":"Maternal influenza and birth outcomes: Systematic review of comparative studies","volume":"124","author":"Fell","year":"2017","journal-title":"BJOG Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Song, J.Y., Park, K.V., Han, S.W., Choi, M.J., Noh, J.Y., Cheong, H.J., Kim, W.J., Oh, M.-J., and Cho, G.J. (2020). Paradoxical long-term impact of maternal influenza infection on neonates and infants. BMC Infect. Dis., 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-020-05236-8"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1097\/01.ede.0000152903.55579.15","article-title":"Maternal hyperthermia and the risk for neural tube defects in offspring: Systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"16","author":"Moretti","year":"2005","journal-title":"Epidemiology"},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2020, December 16). Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/prevent\/keyfacts.htm."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1111\/1471-0528.12977","article-title":"Fetal death and preterm birth associated with maternal influenza vaccination: Systematic review","volume":"122","author":"Fell","year":"2015","journal-title":"BJOG Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e33","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.2011.300606","article-title":"H1N1 influenza vaccination during pregnancy and fetal and neonatal outcomes","volume":"102","author":"Fell","year":"2012","journal-title":"Am. J. Public Health"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2108","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2015.02.068","article-title":"Influenza vaccination during pregnancy: A systematic review of fetal death, spontaneous abortion, and congenital malformation safety outcomes","volume":"33","author":"McMillan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022, October 30). National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncird\/index.html."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1097\/JPN.0000000000000068","article-title":"A comprehensive review of influenza and influenza vaccination during pregnancy","volume":"28","author":"Yuen","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Perinat. Neonatal Nurs."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116","DOI":"10.1186\/s40001-021-00584-w","article-title":"Determinants of influenza vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in Europe: A systematic review","volume":"26","author":"Adeyanju","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. J. Med. Res."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Loubet, P., Nguyen, C., Burnet, E., and Launay, O. (2019). Influenza vaccination of pregnant women in Paris, France: Knowledge, attitudes and practices among midwives. PLoS ONE, 14.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0215251"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"978","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2017.1419110","article-title":"Exploring patients\u2019 awareness and healthcare professionals\u2019 knowledge and attitude to pertussis and influenza vaccination during the antenatal periods in Cavan Monaghan general hospital","volume":"14","author":"Ugezu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4055","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2012.04.012","article-title":"Influenza vaccination uptake among pregnant women and maternal care providers is suboptimal","volume":"30","author":"Lu","year":"2012","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"(2020, March 20). Influenza and Seasonal Influenza, Available online: https:\/\/eody.gov.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/antigripikos-emvoliasmos-prosopikou-2020-2021-1.pdf."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2017.1382789","article-title":"Vaccination in pregnancy: Attitudes of nurses, midwives and health visitors in England","volume":"14","author":"Vishram","year":"2018","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"949","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0b013e3181f1039f","article-title":"Correlates of seasonal influenza vaccine coverage among pregnant women in Georgia and Rhode Island","volume":"116","author":"Ahluwalia","year":"2010","journal-title":"Obstet. Gynecol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S67","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2012.06.077","article-title":"Influenza immunization in pregnancy: Overcoming patient and health care provider barriers","volume":"207","author":"Shavell","year":"2012","journal-title":"Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sarantaki, A., Kalogeropoulou, V.E., Taskou, C., Nanou, C., and Lykeridou, A. (2022). COVID-19 Vaccination and Related Determinants of Hesitancy among Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Vaccines, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines10122055"}],"container-title":["Vaccines"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-393X\/11\/1\/168\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T18:04:33Z","timestamp":1760119473000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-393X\/11\/1\/168"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,12]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1]]}},"alternative-id":["vaccines11010168"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vaccines11010168","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-393X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-393X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,12]]}}}