Epidemiology of infectious diseases and mandatory vaccinations in Italy

The Decree Law no. 73 of 7 June 2017 - which has increased the number of mandatory vaccinations from 4 to 10 and introduced the mandatory vaccination for the access by the children to services (nursery school) and to kindergartens - has been object of criticism by several health workers and researchers, for the potential negative effects that the tightening of the coercive measures could entail. In particular, the contribution highlights how the trend of vaccination coverage and the high contagiousness of the diseases support the rationale of the mandatory vaccination against measles and whooping cough in order to protect the school community and achieve the eradication of the disease. As of today, however, the coercive measures introduced by the law appear to be insufficient: indeed there is a wide lack of strategies with reference to the catch-up of young non-vaccinated adults and to the maintenance of vaccines boosters, as well as lack of actions to promote a greater information and awareness on vaccinations among the population.