S828 IBD Patients’ COVID-19 Vaccine Intention Is Positively Associated With Annual Influenza Vaccination

Abstract

Introduction: Despite significant breakthroughs in addressing the COVID-19 public health crisis, global vaccine hesitancy persists. As influenza is another acute respiratory illness with historically severe mortality and morbidity rates, we sought to investigate attitudes towards both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. In order to inform interventions in vaccine acceptance, our study aimed to assess the relationship between prior annual influenza vaccine receipt and COVID-19 vaccine intention among our IBD patient population. Methods: A retrospective chart review of electronic medical records was conducted of all IBD patients seen from 1/1/2016 to 1/31/2021 by gastroenterologists at an urban university medical center. Patient gender, age, race, IBD subtype, and treatment regimen were obtained. Phone-based surveys were conducted to determine patients’ perceptions of and intention to receive a COVID vaccine, and history of receiving an annual flu vaccine. Patients were excluded if they were unable to be contacted or there was missing demographic data. A confidential database was created using Microsoft Excel. Fischer exact tests were used with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. This study was approved by the university IRB. Results: 218 of 458 (47.6%) medical records were reviewed. 195 (89.5%) patients had already received at least one COVID vaccine dose (n=37) or planned to be vaccinated once made available (n=158). 82.1% of the patients stated they receive the influenza vaccine annually. Patients receiving annual flu vaccines were significantly more likely to have received or planned to receive COVID-19 vaccination as compared to patients not planning to be vaccinated (p< 0.001; OR: 8.3 [3.3, 21.6]). Otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in vaccine intention or receipt based on patient race, gender, IBD subtype, or biologic use. Conclusion: Our findings of increased willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in patients who regularly seek the influenza vaccine, and the converse, are consistent with existing literature. These patterns in vaccination behavior highlight the importance of learning from prior disease response models to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake. It is encouraging that existing disparities in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance may resolve over time as they have with the influenza vaccine through targeted health education interventions.