Correction to: Influenza vaccine coverage, awareness, and beliefs regarding seasonal influenza vaccination among people aged 65 years and older in Central Saudi Arabia

Background. Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that are highly contagious and circulate in all parts of the world. It gives rise to an estimated 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths globally each year. Influenza tends to cause epidemics with serious illness and death among high-risk groups such as children aged 5 years and younger, pregnant women, elderly ≥65 years of age, and with chronic medical conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), all people who are 6 months old and above are recommended to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine annually. Despite the fact that influenza vaccine is readily available, and the severity of the disease is known to adversely affect the individual’s quality of life and well-being, vaccination uptake rates are still low, contributing to the increased burden of the disease worldwide. Objectives. To measure the influenza vaccine uptake among residents of Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia, that determines their attitude, knowledge, and beliefs regarding the vaccine. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered structured questionnaire distributed online targeting residents of Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia, from 1st of August 2019 till 30th of September 2019. Participants were selected through volunteer sampling. The questionnaire included demographic data including age, gender, occupation, education level, marital status, and comorbidities. It also included questions regarding knowledge, attitude, and beliefs regarding influenza vaccine. After collection of data, statistical analyses were conducted by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19.0. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Our study included 503 participants, with age ranging from 18 to 65 years old and 324 (64%) were females. 100 participants (19.9%) had comorbid conditions, and 223 (44.3%) have been vaccinated against influenza in the past. A large portion of participants (41.2%) were familiar with seasonal influenza vaccination from the media. The knowledge part of the questionnaire showed that 302 (60%) participants knew how often they should receive the vaccine and 313 (62.2%) participants knew that the vaccine is provided freely in all of Saudi Arabia. In terms of belief and attitude, 371 participants (73.8%) thought they were susceptible to the disease and 365 (73.8%) believed that influenza vaccine is beneficial, while 446 participants (88.7%) thought that the general public need more knowledge and awareness on the scientific facts of influenza vaccine. Regarding barriers, 295 participants (58.6%) wanted to avoid vaccines and 252 (50.1%) were concerned about the vaccine’s adverse effects. Participants with frequent health checkups and those who had previous knowledge on the availability of the vaccine for free were more likely to be vaccinated. Vaccinated participants (44.3%) were asked if they were willing to take the vaccine again when it is due, 158 (70.9%) answered yes. Those who elicited symptomatic reaction to the vaccine (26.0%) were less inclined to take it again P = 0.035 . Conclusion. We concluded that there is a low influenza vaccine uptake rate among our study population, considering that the barriers most commonly chosen by participants are solvable with health education and campaigns oriented towards delivering facts about the vaccine and dispelling misinformation; such measures are highly recommended and are postulated to carry a great benefit that should target common misconceptions identified in this study.

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Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18020479 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 479

Author(s):

Ibrahim A. Sales ◽

Wajid Syed ◽

Majed F. Almutairi ◽

Yazed Al Ruthia

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Awareness Campaigns ◽

The Impact ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Objectives: Increasing national influenza vaccination rates continues to be a challenge for Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the Saudi public perceptions toward seasonal influenza vaccination and their association with the rate of vaccination. Methods: Individuals aged 15 years and older were surveyed about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward the seasonal influenza vaccine using a previously developed and validated 19-item online questionnaire. The impact of the participants’ perceptions toward the seasonal influenza vaccine on their past influenza vaccination history was assessed using multiple linear regressions. Results: The rate of regular vaccination among the 790 surveyed participants was 12.65%, and those who were aged <24 years had the highest rate (57%). The vast majority of the participants with chronic diseases (>90%) reported irregular vaccination histories against seasonal influenza. Participants who believed that the influenza vaccine is safe (β = 3.27; 95% CI: 2.067 to 5.171; p <0.001), efficacious (β = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.834 to 4.498; p <0.001), should be given during a specific time in the year (β = 1.821; 95% CI: 1.188 to 2.789; p = 0.0059), and were aware of their need to get vaccinated against the seasonal influenza (β = 2.781; 95% CI: 1.254 to 6.188; p = 0.0119) were more likely to have received the vaccine. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the rate of seasonal influenza vaccination is low among the Saudi population, which necessitates the launching of public awareness campaigns about the importance of the seasonal influenza vaccine.

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Impact of national influenza vaccination strategy in severe influenza outcomes among the high-risk Portuguese population

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-019-7958-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ausenda Machado ◽

Irina Kislaya ◽

Amparo Larrauri ◽

Carlos Matias Dias ◽

Baltazar Nunes

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Vaccination Strategy ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Risk Population ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Severe Influenza ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background All aged individuals with a chronic condition and those with 65 and more years are at increased risk of severe influenza post-infection complications. There is limited research on cases averted by the yearly vaccination programs in high-risk individuals. The objective was to estimate the impact of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccination on averted hospitalizations and death among the high-risk population in Portugal. Methods The impact of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccination was estimated using vaccine coverage, vaccine effectiveness and the number of influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths. The number of averted events (NAE), prevented fraction (PF) and number needed to vaccinate (NVN) were estimated for seasons 2014/15 to 2016/17. Results The vaccination strategy averted on average approximately 1833 hospitalizations and 383 deaths per season. Highest NAE was observed in the ≥65 years population (85% of hospitalizations and 95% deaths) and in the 2016/17 season (1957 hospitalizations and 439 deaths). On average, seasonal vaccination prevented 21% of hospitalizations in the population aged 65 and more, and 18.5% in the population with chronic conditions. The vaccination also prevented 29% and 19.5% of deaths in each group of the high-risk population. It would be needed to vaccinate 3360 high-risk individuals, to prevent one hospitalization and 60,471 high-risk individuals to prevent one death. Conclusion The yearly influenza vaccination campaigns had a sustained positive benefit for the high-risk population, reducing hospitalizations and deaths. These results can support public health plans toward increased vaccine coverage in high-risk groups.

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Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Patterns Among Pregnant Women in New Mexico

Hispanic Health Care International ◽

10.1177/1540415319896254 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 214-223

Author(s):

Upasana Chalise ◽

Jill A. McDonald ◽

Anup Amatya ◽

Martha Morales

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

New Mexico ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

The United States ◽

Vaccination Rate ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Border States

Introduction: Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for pregnant women, but half of the pregnant women in the United States remain unvaccinated. Vaccine coverage in U.S.–Mexico border states has not been examined in depth even though risk factors for low vaccine coverage exist in these states, especially in the counties bordering Mexico. Method: Using 2012-2014 New Mexico (NM) Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System data, this study examined the weighted annual seasonal influenza vaccination rates and the relationship of various factors to vaccination among NM residents with a live birth during those years. Results: Among respondents, 53.8% were Hispanic, 15.7% were Native American, and 30.5% were non-Hispanic White. The vaccination rate in NM increased from 49.0% in 2012 to 64.8% in 2014. The adjusted odds of vaccination were higher among women whose health care provider recommended/offered vaccination during the year prior to delivery compared to women whose provider did not (AOR = 11.92, 95% confidence interval [CI: 9.86, 14.42]) and among those living in the U.S.–Mexico nonborder counties compared to those living in the border counties (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.18, 1.25]). Conclusion: Efforts to increase the vaccination rate among pregnant women in border states should concentrate on health care providers and the highest risk women, such as those resident in the border region.

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The Effects of Imprinting and Repeated Seasonal Influenza Vaccination on Adaptive Immunity after Influenza Vaccination

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines8040663 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 663

Author(s):

Amy C. Sherman ◽

Lilin Lai ◽

Mary Bower ◽

Muktha S. Natrajan ◽

Christopher Huerta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Fold Change ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccine Responses ◽

Immune Factors ◽

Antibody Secreting Cells

(1) Background: The influenza virus continues to cause significant annual morbidity and mortality. The overall efficacy of seasonal influenza vaccination is suboptimal, which is partly due to host immune factors. The effects of imprinting and repeated seasonal influenza vaccination were investigated to assess for immune factors and mechanisms that impact influenza vaccine responses. (2) Methods: Twenty participants were enrolled into a prospective pilot study based on birth cohort and seasonal influenza immunization history. Immunologic parameters were assessed over a six-month period after the seasonal influenza vaccine was administered. (3) Results: There was no significant imprinting effect, as measured by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) fold change, HAI geometric mean titer (GMT) for Day 29 or Day 180 post-vaccination and antigen- specific antibody-secreting cells (ASC) for Day 8 post-vaccination. Individuals who had minimal prior seasonal influenza vaccination had a higher magnitude ASC response and a higher HAI fold change post-vaccination than individuals who were repeatedly vaccinated. (4) Conclusions: Repeated seasonal influenza vaccination resulted in a decreased fold change of the immune response, although individuals in this cohort tended to have high HAI titers at baseline that persisted after vaccination. Imprinting effects were not observed in this cohort. These host immune factors should be considered in the development of universal influenza vaccines. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03686514.

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Seasonal influenza vaccination among primary health care workers in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics ◽

10.1080/21645515.2019.1666500 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 321-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nabil J. Awadalla ◽

Hassan Mohammed Al-Musa ◽

Khalid Mohammed Al-Musa ◽

Abdulmajeed Mohammed Asiri ◽

Ahmed Ali Albariqi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Primary Health ◽

Care Workers

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Factors associated with seasonal influenza immunization in people with chronic diseases

Medicinski podmladak ◽

10.5937/mp72-31846 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 72 (2) ◽

pp. 19-25

Author(s):

Slađana Arsenović ◽

Tatjana Gazibara

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Health Care System ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Influenza Immunization ◽

Factors Associated

Annually, at a global level, 3 to 5 million people present severe clinical forms of seasonal influenza and up to 650 000 people die of influenza-related complications. People with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic and metabolic diseases or those reciveing immunosuppressive therapy, constitute a high-risk population group for the development of influenza-related complications, more severe clinical course and poorer health-related outcomes. Due to all of the above, people with chronic diseases are of high priority to receive the influenza vaccine. Immunization represents the key strategy to prevent influenza both in terms of effectiveness and health care costs. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, adequate seasonal influenza immunization coverage among people with chronic diseases is set at 75%. However, few countries achieve this threshold. Understanding predictive factors of vaccination, at different levels of health care delivery (such as individuals, service providers, health policy), is essential to secure acceptance of influenza immunization and achieve the recommended level of vaccination coverage. In this mini review, all the available evidence regarding seasonal influenza vaccination coverage is summarized, alongside factors associated with vaccine uptake in people with chronic diseases as a whole, as well as according to specific diseases such as: cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders, diabetes and cancer. Based on the reviewed empirical evidence, a wide spectrum of factors associated with immunization against influneza was found in people who have chronic diseases. Although diverse, these factors can be systematized into 4 distinctive groups: socio-demographic characteristics, individual attitudes and beliefs, health promoting behaviors and factors related to the health care system. Further efforts are needed to improve the seasonal influenza vaccination coverage. The immunization strategy needs to include the health care system and the community to support people with chronic diseases to continously accept the influenza vaccine.

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SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION COVERAGE: EHIS SURVEY RESULTS VERSUS OECD STATISTICS

Polonia University Scientific Journal ◽

10.23856/3001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

pp. 11-24

Author(s):

Lucia Blazinska ◽

Predrag Duric ◽

Martin Rusnák ◽

Fiona O'May

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Population Surveys ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Interview Survey ◽

European Health ◽

Survey Results ◽

European Health Interview Survey ◽

Oecd Data

Seasonal influenza vaccination is one of the most important tools of prevention. Countries currently use many different methodologies to measure national influenza vaccine coverage in populations at higher risk. The study uses two main data sources: The European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) (collected by Eurostat) and OECD statistics, and compares both results. Findings showed that the EHIS survey results observed in this study are mainly lower than OECD data. This can mean that international sources provide overestimated data of coverage compared to outcomes from population surveys.

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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of seasonal influenza vaccination in healthcare workers, Honduras

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0246379 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0246379

Author(s):

Zachary J. Madewell ◽

Rafael Chacón-Fuentes ◽

Jorge Jara ◽

Homer Mejía-Santos ◽

Ida-Berenice Molina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Healthcare Facility ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Knowledge And Attitude ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Background Seasonal influenza is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease that may cause high morbidity and mortality in susceptible populations. Healthcare workers are a priority group for seasonal influenza vaccination to protect them from contracting influenza and prevent nosocomial transmission to patients. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of seasonal influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in Honduras. Method From August 24 to October 21, 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional KAP survey regarding seasonal influenza vaccination to a random sample of healthcare workers who attended patients in hospitals of the Ministry of Health of Honduras (SESAL) and Honduran Social Security Institute (IHSS). We reported frequency distributions of demographics, vaccination KAP, sources of information, and reasons for non-vaccination. We used principal components factor analysis to create knowledge and attitude scores. We used linear regression to analyze associations between demographics and sources of information about the influenza vaccine, and knowledge and attitude scores. We used logistic regression to analyze associations between demographics, sources of information, knowledge scores, and attitude scores, and influenza vaccination. Result We surveyed 947 healthcare workers who attended patients in 13 SESAL hospitals and two IHSS hospitals. Only 4.6% of participants knew the seasonal influenza vaccine was composed of inactivated viruses, 94.7% believed vaccination causes flu-like symptoms, and 52.0% were vaccinated for influenza in 2018. Knowledge scores were lower for nursing assistants and other healthcare professionals compared to doctors, and higher for healthcare workers who attended a healthcare facility training (P-values≤0.030). Attitude scores were higher for healthcare workers who attended ≥11 patients per day having ≤10 patients per day as reference, self-reported influenza vaccination in previous year, and cited trainings and informal information at the healthcare facility as sources of information for influenza vaccination (P-values≤0.030). Factors associated with self-reported vaccination were self-reported influenza vaccination in previous year (aOR: 7.61; 95% CI: 5.24–11.04), attitude score (aOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.07–1.21), and worked in a SESAL hospital (aOR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.12–2.68) having IHSS as reference. Conclusion Although influenza vaccination is required by law in Honduras and available for free in public health centers, coverage of healthcare workers in 2018 was half that reported in 2017. Lower coverage may be attributed to misconceptions of vaccination side effects.

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