COVID-19's Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and Older.

Nancy M Waite,Jennifer A Pereira,Melissa K Andrew,Vladimir Gilca,Sherilyn K D Houle

doi:10.3390/vaccines9040346

Nancy M Waite, Jennifer A Pereira + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9040346

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Journal: Vaccines	Publication Date: Apr 5, 2021
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Waterloo, Dalhousie University

Abstract

There is considerable overlap in age-related risk factors for influenza and COVID-19. We explored the impact of the pandemic on anticipated influenza and COVID-19 vaccination behaviour in the 2020/2021 season. In May 2020, we conducted online surveys of Canadian adults 50 years and older via a market research panel platform, as part of a series of annual surveys to understand experiences with influenza. Given the current pandemic, respondents were also asked about COVID-19’s impact on their vaccination decision-making for the 2020/2021 season. Of 1001 respondents aged 50–64 years, 470 (47.0%) originally intended on receiving the influenza vaccine and still planned to do so, while 200 (20%) respondents who had planned to abstain now reported willingness to receive the vaccine due to COVID-19. In the 65+ age group, 2525 (72.1%) reported that they had planned to be vaccinated and that COVID-19 had not changed their mind, while 285 individuals (8.1%) reported that they had initially planned to forgo the vaccine but now intended to receive it. Reasons for this change included COVID-19’s demonstration of the devastating potential of viruses; and to protect against influenza, and decrease vulnerability to COVID-19. If the COVID-19 vaccine was available, 69.1% of 50–64 year olds and 79.5% of those 65 years and older reported they would opt to receive it. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a sobering demonstration of the dangers of infectious disease, and the value of vaccines, with implications for influenza and COVID-19 immunization programs.

Highlights

The SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic, with cases exceeding 123 million, and 2,722,000 deaths across the world as of 22 March 2021 [1]
Respondents reported several reasons for this change, from which we identified the following overarching themes: 1. COVID-19 had demonstrated the devastating potential of viruses, which caused fear among those who were previously unconcerned and sparked the realization that they may not be invincible to the severe outcomes of influenza, due to their age and other risk factors; 2
To understand whether COVID-19 has impacted willingness to receive the influenza vaccine, we conducted a survey of Canadian adults 50 years and older, given that this population is more likely to have risk factors for complications

Summary

Introduction

The SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic, with cases exceeding 123 million, and 2,722,000 deaths across the world as of 22 March 2021 [1]. Influenza leads to significant morbidity and mortality annually in Canada, causing over 12,000 hospitalizations and approximately 3500 deaths every year, primarily in older adults [2]. While the national influenza vaccination coverage goal is 80% [3], annual immunization rates of 30–35% and 68–70% are typically reported in those 50–64 years and 65 years and over, respectively [4]. These rates are still insufficient given the transmissibility of this disease (reproduction number for seasonal influenza is often estimated at 1.28) [5] and that these age groups are at increased risk for the complications of influenza [6]

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