Peer-reviewed article
Evaluating Vaccination Coverage and Willingness to Participate in Immunization Programs Among People Living in Prison: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Italy.
Giovanna Paduano, Vincenza Sansone, Vincenzo Aiello, Gabriella Di Giuseppe, Maria Pavia ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed 1,137 people in four prisons in Southern Italy to measure vaccination coverage and willingness to receive vaccines during detention. Only 13.8% had received at least one vaccination while in prison, and less than half expressed willingness to be vaccinated if offered. People with chronic diseases and those who received vaccine information in prison were more likely to be vaccinated, while women and those with children were less likely to receive vaccines.
Key points
- Only 13.8% of 1,137 prison residents self-reported receiving at least one vaccination during current detention
- 41.9% expressed willingness to receive recommended vaccinations if offered in prison
- Chronic disease, receipt of vaccine information in prison, and longer detention were associated with higher vaccination uptake
- Women, those without alcohol-related risk factors, and those with children were significantly less likely to have received vaccinations
- Italian nationality and longer detention were associated with higher willingness to be vaccinated
Limitations
The study relies on self-reported vaccination status rather than verified medical records, which may introduce recall bias. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causal relationships between the identified factors and vaccination outcomes.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: People living in prison are at increased risk of communicable diseases due to overcrowding and suboptimal living conditions. This study aimed to estimate the uptake of recommended vaccinations among people living in prison, investigate their willingness to be vaccinated during detention, and identify factors influencing both uptake and willingness. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2023 to July 2024 in four penitentiary institutions in Southern Italy. RESULTS: Of the 1137 participants, 13.8% self-reported having received at least one vaccination schedule during their current detention. Those with chronic disease, who had received information about vaccines in prison, and with a longer detention were significantly more likely to have received a vaccination. Conversely, women, those not-at-risk from alcohol consumption, and those having at least one child were significantly less likely to have received at least one vaccination schedule in prison. Less than half of the participants (41.9%) expressed willingness to receive recommended vaccinations if offered in prison. Willingness was significantly higher in subjects of Italian nationality and with a longer detention. Moreover, heterosexuals and those who were married or cohabitant were significantly less willing to receive at least one vaccination schedule in prison. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing routine proactive vaccination activities could be effective, and should focus on both standard adult vaccinations and immunizations for individuals with specific risk conditions.