Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics (formerly Human Vaccines)
September 2014 Volume 10, Issue 9
http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/vaccines/toc/volume/10/issue/6/
Special focus: Vaccine acceptance

Commentary
Health care professionals and adolescent vaccination: A call for intervention research
Gregory D Zimet
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.28525
Abstract
In their recently published research study, Gargano et al. found that a physician’s recommendation and parental health beliefs had significant effects on adolescent vaccination rates and on parental intentions to vaccinate. This research replicates the findings of a number of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine-focused research studies, but explores new territory by focusing on all recommended adolescent vaccines: meningococcal-conjugate (MCV4), HPV, influenza, and tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines. Although Gargano et al.’s study is relatively small in scale and focuses on only one county in Georgia, their results are consistent with many other research reports, suggesting that their findings are robust and replicable. Most published intervention studies have targeted parents and young adults, with little focus on health care professionals. However, given the centrality of physician recommendation in adolescent vaccination, as shown by Gargano et al., it is clear that the time has come to develop and evaluate interventions that help physicians and other health care professionals to more effectively implement strong and routine recommendations for all adolescent platform vaccines.

Commentary
Influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel
Sabine Wicker and Georg Marckmann
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.28154
Abstract
The thought is terrifying—you are admitted to the hospital and you die of a nosocomial infection. What sounds like a horror scenario, happens every day in hospitals all over the world. Nosocomial influenza is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality among patients with underlying diseases (especially immunocompromised patients), the elderly, and neonates. Although vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP) is the main measure for preventing nosocomial influenza and is consistently recommended by public-health authorities, vaccine uptake among HCP remains low.1

Review
What are the factors that contribute to parental vaccine-hesitancy and what can we do about it?
Sarah E Williams
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.28596
Abstract
Parental refusal or delay of childhood vaccines is increasing. Barriers to vaccination among this population have been described, yet less is known regarding motivating factors. Researchers are beginning to evaluate various approaches to address the concerns of “vaccine-hesitant” parents, but few studies have evaluated the effect of interventions on timely vaccine uptake. Several models for communicating with vaccine-hesitant parents have been reported for healthcare providers; however, the effectiveness and utility of these strategies has not been quantified. This article reviews the known barriers to vaccination reported by vaccine-hesitant parents and the current evidence on strategies to address parental vaccine hesitancy.

Commentary
Impact of a physician recommendation
Paul M Darden and Robert M Jacobson http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.29020

Research Paper
Attitude toward immunization and risk perception of measles, rubella, mumps, varicella, and pertussis in health care workers working in 6 hospitals of Florence, Italy 2011
Cristina Taddei, Vega Ceccherini, Giuditta Niccolai, Barbara Rita Porchia, Sara Boccalini, Miriam Levi, Emilia Tiscione, Maria Grazia Santini, Simonetta Baretti, Paolo Bonanni and Angela Bechini
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.29398

Research Paper
Knowledge, attitude, and uptake related to human papillomavirus vaccination among young women in Germany recruited via a social media site
Dietmar Walter, Patrick Schmich, Matthias Wetzstein, Deleré Yvonne, Ole Wichmann and Cornelius Remschmidt
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.29541