Letter to the editor: Increase of influenza vaccination coverage rates during the COVID-19 pandemic and implications for the upcoming influenza season in northern hemisphere countries and Australia

AbstractThe overlapping 2020-2021 influenza season and COVID-19 pandemic may overwhelm hospitals throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Using a mathematical model, we project that COVID-19 burden will dwarf that of influenza. If non-pharmacological mitigation efforts fail, increasing influenza vaccination coverage by 30% points would avert 54 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

Download Full-text

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 6-23 Months--Six Immunization Information System Sentinel Sites, United States, 2005-06 Influenza Season

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e585342006-004 ◽

2006 ◽

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Information System ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Immunization Information System

Download Full-text

Coverage and Timing of Influenza Vaccination Among Privately Insured Pregnant Women in the United States, 2010-2018

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/00333549211026779 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003335492110267

Author(s):

Kai Hong ◽

Megan C. Lindley ◽

Fangjun Zhou

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Influenza Season ◽

The United States ◽

Metropolitan Statistical Area ◽

Provider Education ◽

Vaccination Uptake ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Privately Insured

Objective Pregnant women are at increased risk of serious complications from influenza and are recommended to receive an influenza vaccination during pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess trends, timing patterns, and associated factors of influenza vaccination among pregnant women. Methods We used 2010-2018 MarketScan data on 1 286 749 pregnant women aged 15-49 who were privately insured to examine trends and timing patterns of influenza vaccination coverage. We examined descriptive statistics and identified factors associated with vaccination uptake by using multivariate log-binomial and Cox proportional hazard models. Results In-plan influenza vaccination coverage before delivery increased from 22.0% during the 2010-2011 influenza season to 33.2% during the 2017-2018 influenza season. About two-thirds of vaccinated women received the vaccine in September or October during each influenza season. For women who delivered in September through May, influenza vaccination coverage increased rapidly at the beginning of influenza season and flattened after October. For women who delivered in June through August, influenza vaccination coverage increased gradually until February and flattened thereafter. Most vaccinated women who delivered before January received the vaccine in the third trimester. Increased likelihood of being vaccinated was associated with age 31-40, living in a metropolitan statistical area, living outside the South, enrollment in a consumer-driven or high-deductible health plan, being spouses or dependents of policy holders, and delivery in November through January. Conclusions Despite increases during the past several years, vaccination uptake is still suboptimal, particularly after October. Health care provider education on timing of vaccination and recommendations throughout influenza seasons are needed to improve influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women.

Download Full-text

Trends in Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rates in Germany over Six Seasons from 2001/02 to 2006/07

Medizinische Klinik ◽

10.1007/s00063-008-1121-0 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 103 (11) ◽

pp. 761-768 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Patricia R. Blank ◽

Andreas U. Freiburghaus ◽

Bernhard R. Ruf ◽

Matthias M. Schwenkglenks ◽

Thomas D. Szucs

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Coverage Rates

Download Full-text

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2017–18 Influenza Season

MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report ◽

10.15585/mmwr.mm6738a2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 67 (38) ◽

pp. 1050-1054 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Carla L. Black ◽

Xin Yue ◽

Sarah W. Ball ◽

Rebecca V. Fink ◽

Marie A. de Perio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Health Care Personnel

Download Full-text

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women — United States, 2014–15 Influenza Season

MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report ◽

10.15585/mmwr.mm6436a2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 64 (36) ◽

pp. 1000-1005 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Helen Ding ◽

Carla L. Black ◽

Sarah Ball ◽

Sara Donahue ◽

Rebecca V. Fink ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Influenza Season

Download Full-text

Influenza vaccination campaigns targeted at healthcare workers:results of four hospitals in Rome

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.516 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

A Tognetto ◽

A Abbondanzieri ◽

G Cerone ◽

M Di Pumpo ◽

A Nardi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Teaching Hospitals ◽

Easy Access ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Coverage Rates ◽

Vaccination Campaigns

Abstract Background Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) of health care workers (HCWs) is well recognized as a public health measure that can protect both HCWs from infection and patients from the risk of influenza complications. Nevertheless, vaccination coverage rates among this specific population result generally lower than the recommended target. With our study, we aimed to describe the activities and the outcomes of four different SIV campaigns targeted at HCWs and organized during the season 2018/2019 in four hospitals in Rome. Methods A cross-sectional study involving four teaching hospitals was performed. The collected data were synthetized into a set of descriptors and indicators, validated through a previous study that had involved the same Centers. Results The Medical Directorates, in collaboration with the University Hygiene and Public Health Units of the four hospitals organized different strategies: Hospital 1, 3 and 4 realized educational courses for HCWs and actively promoted the campaigns through e-mail invitations to all HCWs. As for the access to vaccination, all the hospitals provided a dedicated unit for SIV; Hospital 1 and Hospital 4 organized also on-site vaccination sessions in the hospital wards, that required a large number of staff. The vaccination coverage rates resulted: 22.37% in Hospital 1, 18.10% in Hospital 4, 9.28% in Hospital 2 and 8,51% in Hospital 3. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that multi-activity campaigns, involving education, promotion and easy access to vaccination constitute an effective approach to reinforce the value of SIV. Our findings suggest that on-site vaccination may play a key role in determining a higher vaccination coverage. Key messages Multi-activity vaccination campaigns, involving education, promotion and easy access to vaccination constitute an effective approach to reinforce the value of seasonal influenza vaccination for HCWs. On-site vaccination may play a key role in determining a higher vaccination coverage.

Download Full-text

Relationship between Influenza Vaccination Coverage Rate and COVID-19 Outbreak: An Italian Ecological Study

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines8030535 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 535 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mauro Amato ◽

José Pablo Werba ◽

Beatrice Frigerio ◽

Daniela Coggi ◽

Daniela Sansaro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Intensive Care Units ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Coverage Rate ◽

Italian Population ◽

Vaccination Coverage Rate ◽

Multivariable Analyses ◽

Coverage Rates

Background: The lack of specific vaccines or drugs against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) warrants studies focusing on alternative clinical approaches to reduce the spread of this pandemic disease. In this study, we investigated whether anti-influenza vaccination plays a role in minimizing the diffusion of COVID-19 in the Italian population aged 65 and over. Methods: Four COVID-19 outcomes were used: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence, hospitalizations for COVID-19 symptoms, admissions to intensive care units for reasons related to SARS-CoV-2, and deaths attributable to COVID-19. Results: At univariate analyses, the influenza vaccination coverage rates correlated negatively with all COVID-19 outcomes (Beta ranging from −134 to −0.61; all p < 0.01). At multivariable analyses, influenza vaccination coverage rates correlated independently with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence (Beta (95% C.I.): −130 (−198, −62); p = 0.001), hospitalizations for COVID-19 symptoms (Beta (95% C.I.): −4.16 (−6.27, −2.05); p = 0.001), admission to intensive care units for reasons related to SARS-CoV-2 (Beta (95% C.I.): −0.58 (−1.05, −0.12); p = 0.017), and number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 (Beta (95% C.I.): −3.29 (−5.66, −0.93); p = 0.010). The R2 observed in the unadjusted analysis increased from 82% to 159% for all the considered outcomes after multivariable analyses. Conclusions: In the Italian population, the coverage rate of the influenza vaccination in people aged 65 and over is associated with a reduced spread and a less severe clinical expression of COVID-19. This finding warrants ad hoc studies to investigate the role of influenza vaccination in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Download Full-text