The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Uptake of Influenza Vaccine: UK-Wide Observational Study

• Published in: JMIR public health and surveillance Vol. 7; no. 4; p. e26734
• Main Authors: Bachtiger, Patrik, Adamson, Alexander, Chow, Ji-Jian, Sisodia, Rupa, Quint, Jennifer K, Peters, Nicholas S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada JMIR Publications 14.04.2021
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Comorbidity; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 vaccines; COVID-19 Vaccines - administration & dosage; Data analysis; Epidemiology; Ethnicity; Female; Health care; Health Personnel - psychology; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Health surveillance; Humans; Immunization; Influenza; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Intention; Male; Middle Aged; Multimedia; Observational studies; Original Paper; Pandemics; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Patients; Public health; Questionnaires; Seasons; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; State Medicine; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Vaccination - psychology; Vaccination - statistics & numerical data; Vaccines; Variables; Winter; Young Adult; United Kingdom; United Kingdom > UK; influenza; Health Service; observational; uptake; impact; Pandemic; United Kingdom; virus; flu; intention; COVID; COVID-19; National Health Service; vaccine; electronic health record; public health; vaccination
• ISSN: 2369-2960; 2369-2960
• DOI: 10.2196/26734

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK National Health Service (NHS) extended eligibility for influenza vaccination this season to approximately 32.4 million people (48.8% of the population). Knowing the intended uptake of the vaccine will inform supply and public health messaging to maximize vaccination. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceptance of influenza vaccination in the 2020-2021 season, specifically focusing on people who were previously eligible but routinely declined vaccination and newly eligible people. Intention to receive the influenza vaccine in 2020-2021 was asked of all registrants of the largest electronic personal health record in the NHS by a web-based questionnaire on July 31, 2020. Of those who were either newly or previously eligible but had not previously received an influenza vaccination, multivariable logistic regression and network diagrams were used to examine their reasons to undergo or decline vaccination. Among 6641 respondents, 945 (14.2%) were previously eligible but were not vaccinated; of these, 536 (56.7%) intended to receive an influenza vaccination in 2020-2021, as did 466 (68.6%) of the newly eligible respondents. Intention to receive the influenza vaccine was associated with increased age, index of multiple deprivation quintile, and considering oneself to be at high risk from COVID-19. Among those who were eligible but not intending to be vaccinated in 2020-2021, 164/543 (30.2%) gave reasons based on misinformation. Of the previously unvaccinated health care workers, 47/96 (49%) stated they would decline vaccination in 2020-2021. In this sample, COVID-19 has increased acceptance of influenza vaccination in previously eligible but unvaccinated people and has motivated substantial uptake in newly eligible people. This study is essential for informing resource planning and the need for effective messaging campaigns to address negative misconceptions, which is also necessary for COVID-19 vaccination programs.