Immunoprophylaxis for people over 65 years of age: priorities and attitudes

General Medicine, 2024, 26(4), 45-51.

I. Stambolova, A. Terzieva, S. Georgieva, T. Popova

Department of Health Care, Faculty of Public Health “Prof. Dr. Tsekomir Vodeniarov, DSc“,
Medical University ‒ Sofia

Abstract. A national program to improve vaccination prevention was adopted in Bulgaria at the beginning of 2024, with main objectives: to reduce morbidity, complications and mortality from seasonal influenza and invasive pneumococcal infections in adults aged 65 and over by increasing immunization coverage in this age group and by increasing public and medical specialist awareness on the risk of influenza and pneumococcal infections. The aim of the present study was to examine the awareness about immunoprophylaxis for seasonal influenza and pneumococcal infections in persons over 65 years of age and nursing student attitudes toward specific immunoprophylaxis and the education of adult patients related to it. Material and Methods: 122 students from the Faculty of Health, MU ‒ Sofia, majoring in “Nursing”, 2nd year of education, studying the course “Nursing Care for Infectious Patients” participated voluntarily in the study. The survey was conducted in March 2024. The following were used: documentary method ‒ for the analysis of regulatory documents and scientific literature regarding the specific immunoprophylaxis of seasonal flu and pneumococcal infections in EU countries and Bulgaria for persons over 65 years of age; sociological method ‒ a direct, anonymous survey, specially developed for the study purpose, and mathematical and statistical methods for data processing, analysis and interpretation and for graphical presentation of the obtained results. The processing and graphical analysis were conducted with the MS Excel 2010 program. Results and conclusion: The problems of seasonal immunoprophylaxis for influenza and pneumococcal infections for persons over 65 years of age in our country are mainly related to the low activity and insufficient awareness of the concerned people. Nursing students who have completed training in the discipline “Nursing Care of Patients with Infectious Diseases” have the necessary knowledge about immunoprophylaxis, and over 90.0% is immunized, along with their children, according to the immunization calendar of the Republic of Bulgaria. Most of the respondents have information about the availability of free vaccines for people over 65 years at their GP and their benefits, especially for risk groups. Future nurses have the attitude and desire to participate in information campaigns and health education of patients in order to increase the health culture of the population regarding immunoprophylaxis.

Key words: immunoprophylaxis, awareness, persons over 65 years of age, influenza, pneumococcal infections, nurses

Address for correspondence: Prof. Ivanka Stambolova, PhD, e-mail: i.stambolova@foz.mu-sofia.bg