Pregnant Women’s Knowledge of and Attitudes towards Influenza Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

Abstract

Pregnant women are more susceptible to influenza virus infections due to the immunological and physiological changes in the course of pregnancy. Vaccination during pregnancy is a safe and effective method for protecting both the mothers and the infants from influenza and its complications. This study was conducted in order to determine the knowledge and attitudes of Polish pregnant women towards influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire-based and self-administered study was carried out fully online and a total of 515 women participated. A total of 52% (n = 268) of surveyed women answered that vaccination against influenza during pregnancy was safe. However, only 21% (n = 108) were vaccinated against influenza during their current pregnancy and 17.5% (n = 90) intended to be vaccinated. The participants indicated many concerns about getting vaccinated during pregnancy, but also many benefits that come with the vaccination. General knowledge about influenza, its complications, and vaccination was quite high in the study group.