Abstract
Objective:Influenza vaccine reduces the burden of seasonal influenza and related complications. Potential vaccination barriers need to be identified to raise awareness and increase acceptance. We aimed to investigate the rates of seasonal influenza vaccination and the knowledge, opinions, and behaviours prevalent in Turkish society.Methods:The study among seven regions in Turkey was conducted from October-November 2018 in 28 family health centres, using a cross-sectional, descriptive design. The knowledge, opinions, and behaviours of participants regarding the influenza vaccine were obtained by family physicians through face-to-face interviews with participants.Results:A total of 3,492 people aged 10-97 years age range (median: 50 years) were included in the study. Over half of the participants (59.9%, n = 2093) were female. It was found that the percentage of participants who never received the influenza vaccine was 78.4%; only 13.4% were occasionally vaccinated, and 8.1% received regular annual vaccination. Influenza vaccination rates were higher in married people (p < 0.001), women (p = 0.005), patients with chronic lung and cardiovascular disease (p < 0.001), those over 65 years /nursing home residents (p < 0.001). Awareness of the vaccine’s benefit was higher in the group at high risk of influenza (p < 0.001).Conclusion:The rate of regular vaccination against influenza every year was insufficient, at 8.1%. Individuals’ insensitivity, insufficient knowledge, and attitudes toward influenza vaccination is a serious health problem for Turkish society. Barriers to influenza vaccination can be reduced by good communication between family physicians and their patients.
Highlights
Seasonal influenza is an important cause of mortality and causes a significant disease burden worldwide, leading to serious side-effects and complications that affect quality of life.[1-5]Correspondence: June 17, 2021 December 6, 2021 December 28, 2021Seasonal influenza vaccines are the most important way to reduce the disease
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an influenza vaccination once per year for all individuals older than six months, with specific exceptions.[8]. Both pneumococcal and influenza vaccines are strongly recommended for all individuals over the age of 65 who are at a higher risk for these conditions.[9]
The sample size was calculated based on the 20.0% uptake of the influenza vaccine found among participants of a similar study by Sagor et al The minimum sample size was calculated as n = 2389 at the d = 0.02 margin of error and α = 0.01 significance level.[13]
Summary
Seasonal influenza is an important cause of mortality and causes a significant disease burden worldwide, leading to serious side-effects and complications that affect quality of life.[1-5]Correspondence: June 17, 2021 December 6, 2021 December 28, 2021Seasonal influenza vaccines are the most important way to reduce the disease. Regular annual vaccination against influenza decreases mortality and morbidity and decreases health expenditures, especially in older adult and atrisk patients.[6,7]. In this context, The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an influenza vaccination once per year for all individuals older than six months, with specific exceptions.[8]. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an influenza vaccination once per year for all individuals older than six months, with specific exceptions.[8] Both pneumococcal and influenza vaccines are strongly recommended for all individuals over the age of 65 who are at a higher risk for these conditions.[9].
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