Perceptions of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Among U.S. Army Civilians and Dependents in the Kaiserslautern Military Community: A Mixed-Methods Survey

Burns, Veronica M; Castillo, Fritz; Coldren, Rodney L.; Prosser, T. G.; Howell, Renee L; Kabbur, Mahendra B

doi:10.1093/milmed/usaa572

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…In line with previous evidence ( 28 , 29 ), vaccination history in former seasons is conducive to future seasons. This hints to administrative departments to take action before it is too late.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Awareness, knowledge and attitude toward influenza vaccination in several population groups in China: A cross-sectional study

Jiang

Wang

Jia

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundWe aimed to comprehensively analyze awareness, knowledge and attitude toward influenza vaccine and the factors associated to vaccine acceptance among the young and middle-aged general population, healthcare workers, and health-related administrators in China. The factors influencing the promotion of influenza vaccination were also evaluated among healthcare workers and administrators.MethodsThis is a multicenter, cross-sectional study. General population adults, healthcare workers (HCWs), and health administrators were enrolled in seven regions across China during the 2020–2021 flu season. Data were collected via an online questionnaire, which included information request as to awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward influenza vaccination. Statistical significance set at p-values < 0.05.ResultsA total of 3,239 individuals were included in our analyses. There were gaps in consciousness to action, especially between awareness (87.1%) and knowledge (57.7%), and between willingness (57.3%) and vaccination (22.3%). The downward trends were similar in all three groups. HCW group and the health administrator group showed more positive propensity to accept influenza vaccines than the general population group. For the general population group, those with a lower educational level (lower than a bachelor's degree) were less likely to be vaccinated (aOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.45–0.96). For the HCW group, practitioners older than 45 years were more reluctant to be vaccinated than those under 25 years (aOR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.19–0.86). For the health administrator group, personnel aged 26 years and above were less inclined to be vaccinated (aORs = 0.17–0.20). In all groups, people who had received influenza vaccines in the past 5 years (aOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.31–2.26 in general population group, 13.05, 95% CI: 7.71–22.10 in HCW group, and 19.30, 95% CI: 9.66–42.63 in health administrator group) were more likely to be vaccinated in future seasons. People who were not covered by the free program or those without awareness of the related programs were less likely to be vaccinated (aORs < 0.63). Most (70.8%) of HCWs showed intention to recommend the influenza vaccine. Clinical doctors, those who had flu shots themselves, and those who had more knowledge, were more like to make recommendations. Health administrators stated that insufficient budget resources and workforce, and low public awareness are main difficulties in the promotion of influenza vaccine.ConclusionThe influencing factors of the attitude toward influenza vaccination vary across populations. Governments need to carry out focused vaccination promotion programs, especially for healthcare workers, to improve the coverage of influenza vaccination.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Awareness, knowledge and attitude toward influenza vaccination in several population groups in China: A cross-sectional study

Jiang

Wang

Jia

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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“…Similar studies in Greece before the COVID-19 pandemic showed a vaccination uptake of 56.6% for people over the age of 60 [ 40 ] and of 34.8% [ 41 ] to 37.9% [ 42 ] for high-risk populations. Moreover, vaccination intention rate against influenza for the 2020–2021 season among high-risk people in Spain, Ireland, Japan, and USA was much higher compared to that in our study ranging from 43.3% to 79.7% [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Moreover, such intention rate was higher in studies including patients in United Kingdom (76.3%) [ 43 ] and China (54%) [ 44 ] before the pandemic.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, only four studies [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ] assessed the intentions of high-risk populations to receive the influenza vaccine for the 2020–2021 season. Additionally, these studies investigated only demographic variables and previous influenza vaccine acceptance as potential predictors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Willingness among High-Risk Populations Three Years after the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2023

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High-risk populations are at increased risk of severe influenza-related illness, hospitalization, and death due to influenza. The aim of our study was to assess the willingness of high-risk populations to take the influenza vaccine for the 2022–2023 season, and to investigate the factors associated with such willingness. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Greece in September 2022 using a convenience sample. We considered demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related variables, resilience, social support, anxiety, depression, and COVID-19-related burnout as potential predictors. Among participants, 39.4% were willing to accept the seasonal influenza vaccine, 33.9% were unwilling, and 26.8% were hesitant. Multivariable analysis identified that increased age and increased family support were associated with increased influenza vaccination willingness. Moreover, participants that have received COVID-19 booster doses were more willing to accept the influenza vaccine. In contrast, adverse effects because of COVID-19 vaccination and exhaustion due to measures against COVID-19 reduced influenza vaccination willingness. We found that the intention of high-risk populations to receive the influenza vaccine was low. Our study contributes to an increased understanding of the factors that affect vaccination willingness. Public health authorities could use this information to update vaccination programs against influenza. Emphasis should be given on safety and effectiveness issues.

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“… 5 Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was hesitancy to other vaccines, including polio, 6 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), 7 and influenza. 8 In some cases, vaccine hesitancy was directly linked to actions of the medical establishment. For example, public concern for the poliovirus vaccination increased dramatically after the Cutter Incident of 1955, in which multiple children developed paralysis after being unintentionally administered a vaccine that contained live virus because of a laboratory processing error and contamination of cell debris which resulted in inadequate inactivation of the virus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions and Concerns Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination in a Military Base Population

Theis

Kelly

et al. 2021

Military Medicine

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Introduction Safe and effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus 2 are essential tools in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, hesitancy to vaccination is a major barrier to achieving herd immunity, particularly among a population working on a military base. To better understand the perceptions and concerns of these individuals, a voluntary survey was conducted. Materials and Methods An interactive, online survey was constructed and disseminated to individuals associated with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Dayton, OH. Survey participation was voluntary with responses collected over the initial weeks in which WPAFB began to distribute COVID-19 vaccines in a series of phases. Although initially designed to collect demographic data and identify reasons for potential vaccine hesitancy among WPAFB 88th Medical Group personnel, the study population was expanded to include all WPAFB-affiliated personnel at the direction of base leadership. The chi-squared test was used to examine the relationships between categorical variables, while multivariable logistic regression was used to assess age and occupation as independent risk factors for vaccine hesitancy. Results A total of 816 individuals completed the survey, of whom 22.7% (n = 185) self-identified as vaccine hesitant (VH). The VH group had a lower mean age than the not vaccine hesitant (NVH) group (39.3 ± 14.2 vs. 45.9 ± 13.4, P < .001). Respondents whose occupation was medical were more likely to be VH than their non-medical colleagues (49% vs. 18%, P < .001). The VH group was more concerned about short-term side effects (43% vs. 26%, P < .001), long-term side effects (82% vs. 50%, P < 0.001), vaccine effectiveness (23% vs. 5%, P < .001), vaccine making them feel sick (22% vs. 13%, P = .002), being infected with COVID-19 from the vaccine (10% vs. 5%, P = 0.008), and worry about misinformation/political agenda (43% vs. 31%, P = 0.003). Younger respondents and medical personnel were more likely to be concerned about long-term side effects and vaccine effectiveness, and the younger group was also more likely to be concerned about pregnancy/breastfeeding issues and worry about misinformation/political agenda. Age (younger vs. older, odds ratio 2.15) and occupation (medical vs. non-medical, odds ratio 3.74) were independent risk factors for vaccine hesitancy. The NVH group was more likely to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine to a friend or family member than the VH group (93% vs. 20%, P < .001) as were the older age group (79% vs. 67%, P = .001) and non-medical personnel (81% vs. 52%, P < .001). Conclusions Younger age and medical occupation were independent risk factors for vaccine hesitancy and these individuals were less likely to recommend vaccination to a friend or family member. We also identified several key concerns related to vaccination hesitancy, in particular those related to short- and long-term side effects, and the spread of misinformation. Among military personnel, these findings carry important implications that may negatively impact mission readiness, a matter that merits further investigation. Our COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy findings can be used to guide targeted interventions at future vaccination campaigns in a military population.

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Perceptions of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Among U.S. Army Civilians and Dependents in the Kaiserslautern Military Community: A Mixed-Methods Survey

Cited by 5 publications

References 32 publications

Awareness, knowledge and attitude toward influenza vaccination in several population groups in China: A cross-sectional study

Awareness, knowledge and attitude toward influenza vaccination in several population groups in China: A cross-sectional study

Predictors of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Willingness among High-Risk Populations Three Years after the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Perceptions and Concerns Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination in a Military Base Population

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