World Vaccine week: the importance for babies, teenagers and future mothers

Vaccines save lives: six people per minute for fifty years now. For a total of 154 million lives saved. These are the data of theWorld Health Organization (WHO), which for years has promoted for years The World Immunization Week, which is celebrated from 24 to 30 April. On this occasion, the Italian Society of Pediatrics (SIP) wants to underline the key role of vaccinations and reiterate that there are still challenges to win in our country. Starting from the roofs in teenagers and pregnant women, still insufficient.

Vaccination coverage: worry the resumption of measles

Vaccination reduced child mortality by 40%. Yet they still circulate fake news that tend to undermine the trust of the population compared to this prevention strategy. « We are submerged every day from sensationalistic news without a scientific basis. Once the vaccinations were made directly at school and this was welcomed by families with great favor, because the gravity of diseases such as poliomielite and meningitis was perfectly understood – he underlines – Rino Agostiniani, president of the SIP -. Today, unfortunately, thanks to vaccinations, the perception of the severity of certain diseases and the importance of protecting itself has been lost. AND If the vaccination roofs fall, what we are witnessing for the measles». In fact, the resumption of this disease is concerned which, according to the data of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), recorded over a thousand cases in 2024 against the against 44 of the previous year and 227 cases in the first three months of 2025, of which 8 in children with less than a year of age. Our country is the second most affected in Europe after Romania. And 90% of patients were not vaccinated. According to the Ministry of Health, most of the recommended vaccinations in the early years of age record a slight drop. «Be careful: At the fall of the vaccination covers the spread of the disease restarts», Continues Augustinians.

Vaccines for teenagers: anti-hpv

Among the most evident deficiencies also the coverage to defeat meningococcus. «The possibility of vaccinating is a great privilege. There are nations in the world where you die frequently of meningitis – highlights Augustinians -. It is true that in Italy it is a rather rare disease, but it can have a dramatic evolution and lead to death. We are still far from 95% of coverage provided by the current national vaccine plan that would make the disease disappear. Just think that, at national level, in the 16 -year -old cohort it reaches just 56.98%». The vaccine for theHPV (Human Papillomavirus). «It is an extremely powerful prevention tool, since this virus is responsible for different forms of cancer: At the neck of the uterus, the anus, the penis, of the golden, and can also cause genital warts. And it affects both sexes. Vaccinating also the boys is fundamental, both for their direct protection and to interrupt the circulation of the virus. But the roof levels are not enough to reduce this type of tumor pathologies», Launches the Augustinian alarm. In 2023, only 45.39% of the girls born in 2011 completed the vaccination cycle, while among male peers the percentage drops to 39.35%.

Pregnancy vaccinations

Pregnancy is a crucial moment for prevention. In this phase they are recommended the vaccine against the pertussis (dtpa), the influenza and the one against the Sincial respiratory virus (VRS)recently introduced. «Pertosse is an important disease that, if contracted by children, It can be very serious and even fatal. But it is not perceived. The new births are vaccinated between 60 and 90 days of life, but if in the family someone takes it, maybe the grandparents, the newborn runs great risks – warns Augustinians -. The only way to protect him is to make sure that his mother transmits the antibodies before he is the same vaccinated. That’s why vaccination in pregnancy is recommended. The same goes for the syncial respiratory virus. Experiences of other countries have shown that The vaccine against VRS in pregnancy and the immunoprophylaxis of the newborn are greatly reducing the risk of contracting bronchiolitis in the first months of life. As regards the flu vaccine, maternal protection is recommended even if the child was born out of the epidemic period. Contract the influence during gestation, in fact, it could be disturbing both for the future mother and for the fetus». In short, vaccinating in pregnancy means offering the newborn immediate protection, especially in the first months of life when it is more vulnerable.

Before conception

Even before conception it is important to act with a view to prevention. Fertile women should be immunized against measles, parotitis, rubella and chickenpox. « These vaccines, however, cannot be made in pregnancy because they are attenuated live viruses and it is preferable to avoid administration during gestation – warns Augustinians -. To avoid the risk, especially of Rosalia that has devastating effects on the fetus, It is good to test the coverage from these diseases when planning a pregnancy. If the future mother should not be immunized, the vaccine would be recommended before conception. It is essential that vaccination takes place with Two doses administered at least a month before the start of pregnancy».

Vaccines: the role of the pediatrician

«Where it is the pediatrician who takes charge of vaccinations, the vaccination coverage rises. The choice to administer the vaccine in the family pediatricians in the clinics is determined, however, by the regional agreements and by the professional’s will. This is why the situation in Italy appears to Leopardo spot. The pediatrician plays a fundamental role to convey the right message and must be a reference for all the health choices of children and teenagers. It is essential that you inform and reassure parents about the importance of vaccinations. Currently from overseas we arrive fake news on the link between vaccines and autism. But numerous and large studies have shown that there is no correlation. On the contrary, all studies have shown that vaccines save life, « he concludes.