Association between Pandemic of COVID‐19 and Influenza Vaccine Take‐Up in 2020–2021 in Maine et Loire (France)

Abstract

Background. Take‐up of the influenza (flu) vaccination in France is assessed every year by Santé publique France (SPF), a national health agency. In 2020, the pandemic of COVID‐19 took place all over the world. With several symptoms known to be similar between flu and COVID‐19, we expected to observe a positive association with people’s choice to also take the flu vaccine injection. Methods. Data regarding the flu vaccination for people aged 65 and over were extracted from the French National Health Data System (Système National des Données de Santé—SNDS). A noninterventional multicenter survey in the Department of Maine et Loire, an area in the west of France, was used for assessing the effect of COVID‐19 on vaccination intention. Results. The flu vaccine take‐up (Maine et Loire, France), among people aged 65 and over, improved since 2017 (54.36% in 2017–18 vs 58.12% in 2020–21). In 2020–21 (concomitant with the COVID‐19 pandemic), people got vaccinated earlier than the previous year (peak in weeks 1–2 vs peak in weeks 5–6 in previous campaigns), before a shortage of doses interrupted the 2020–21 campaign. Of the 211 people who answered the survey among the 232 for whom it was proposed, 175 were vaccinated during the 2020–21 flu vaccine campaign. Among them, 29.12% declared they were aware of COVID‐19 when receiving the flu vaccine. The most cited reason for taking the vaccination was the need to feel safe from the influenza virus; the second was “awareness of the fact that a virus can be contagious and deadly.” Conclusion. Our study highlights the COVID‐19 association perceived by the elderly population (Maine et Loire) on flu vaccination rates. Despite having human consequences, the COVID‐19 pandemic seems to be beneficial to flu vaccine take‐up and may positively change people’s beliefs and behaviors towards flu vaccination.