An operational experience of in-hospital vaccination counseling in a cancer hospital in Romagna (Italy): assessing feasibility and its influence on patients adherence

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Patients with cancer are at elevated risk of infectious complications, rendering vaccination a key preventive intervention. Despite this, adherence to recommended vaccination schedules remains suboptimal. This operational study aimed to assess the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of an in-hospital vaccination counseling service designed to enhance immunization uptake in this high-risk population. Methods: From March 2024 to February 2025, monthly vaccination counseling sessions were offered at the Cancer Treatment, Research, and Training Centre (IRST). Patients attending scheduled oncology or hematology appointments were proactively engaged. The service included initial counseling, on-site vaccine administration when indicated, and referral to public health clinics for subsequent doses. Results: A total of 106 counseling sessions were conducted, involving 55% oncohematological patients, 43% oncological patients, and 2% caregivers or other individuals. Among those counseled, 55% (58 patients) received at least one vaccine during the session, and 36% (33 patients) accessed follow-up doses at public health facilities. Receipt of vaccination during counseling was significantly associated with continued adherence to the vaccination schedule (OR = 7.05; 95% CI 2.29–21.70; p < 0.001). Conclusions: This preliminary experience suggested that an in-hospital vaccination counseling service was feasible and appeared to positively influence adherence to immunization schedules among cancer patients. Given the exploratory nature and limited scale of the study, these findings should be interpreted as early indicators, to be confirmed through ongoing data collection and larger, more comprehensive evaluations.