Why the study?
Professional athletes face increased infectious risk from intense activity, travel, and close contact, but data on influenza vaccine uptake and attitudes in this group are limited.
Among professional male volleyball athletes in Italy, influenza vaccination adherence is strongly influenced by medical advice and club policies, highlighting the need for structured immunization programs in elite sports.
Highlights role of medical advice and club policies in athlete vaccine uptake; leaves open causal effects and need for prospective trials.
OBJECTIVES: Influenza vaccination is a key preventive measure, especially for professional athletes exposed to increased infectious risk due to intense physical activity, frequent travel, and close-contact settings. However, data on vaccine uptake and attitudes in this group are limited. This study examined opinions, behaviors, and determinants of influenza vaccination adherence among male athletes in the Italian Serie A volleyball league during the 2024/25 season to inform targeted immunization strategies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. METHODS: A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 157 athletes between December 2024 and March 2025. Collected variables included socio-demographic characteristics, vaccination history, perceived influenza risk, vaccination importance, and influencing factors such as medical advice and club policy. RESULTS: Of 138 respondents (response rate: 87.9 %), 44.9 % intended to vaccinate in the current season, and 63.8 % had been vaccinated previously. Overall, 76.1 % recognized the importance of vaccination. Key motivations were medical recommendations (61.6 %) and club policies (25.4 %). Significant associations were found between perceived influenza risk and vaccination intention (p < 0.001), and between medical recommendation and perceived importance (OR = 3.45, p < 0.01). Age showed no significant association. CONCLUSIONS: Although vaccination is widely regarded as important among professional athletes, adherence is strongly influenced by organizational factors. Medical advice and club support are critical drivers of vaccine acceptance. Tailored communication strategies, integration of vaccination into routine sports medicine, and structured immunization programs are recommended to improve coverage in elite sports and support public health goals.
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Gabellone et al. (2025) studied this question.
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