Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination: What Happens to the Flu Shot When the Campaigns Overlap? Experience from a Large Italian Research Hospital

Abstract

Influenza represents a threat to global health and health care workers (HCWs) have an increased risk of contracting the influenza virus in the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought back the importance of influenza vaccination, as the influenza virus can circulate together with SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this report is to describe the actual flu vaccination coverage among healthcare workers of a research hospital and the trend changes, with respect to the past flu vaccination campaigns, in light of the present pandemic and COVID-19 vaccination. A Pearson’s χ2 test was used to test the correlation of flu vaccination coverage, across all professional categories, between the last two years. A linear regression model was adopted to predict the total vaccination coverage of this year. A statistically significant decrease (p < 0.01) was observed in vaccination coverage among all the professional categories with a 50% reduction in vaccination trends between the last two years. Analyzing the data from the previous six flu vaccination campaigns, the expected value, according to the linear regression model, was estimated to be 38.5% while the observed value was 24%. The decrease in vaccination coverage may be due to the fear of the pandemic situation and especially to the uncertainty related to the consequences of a concurrent administration which may overload the immune system or may be more reactogenic. The COVID-19 pandemic represents an opportunity to promote and support large-scale influenza vaccination among HCWs through structured programs, adequate funding, and tailored communication strategies.

Declining influenza vaccination rates in an underserved pediatric primary care center during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In fact, a recent study highlighted that healthcare workers had a statistically significant decrease in influenza vaccination uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may also be due to uncertainty surrounding co-administration of both COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations. [21] Though the CDC highlights the safety of co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other routine vaccines in children, including influenza vaccine, on the same day or even within 14 days of each vaccine, [22] vaccine fatigue may have led to decreased uptake.…”

Medical Residents’ Behaviours toward Compulsory COVID-19 Vaccination in a Tertiary Hospital in Italy

“…Alongside compulsory vaccination, a necessary boost to vaccination adherence is represented by the awareness and vaccination campaigns [ 17 ]. In our case, almost 60% of the MRs were vaccinated in the hospital of their specialisation thanks to the organisation of these campaigns; among MRs, the “frontline” are the ones who have used this service the most in the hospital where they work.…”

“…Although the COVID-19 vaccine is unlikely to lead to the achievement of herd immunity due to both the rapidity of virus mutation and the short duration of the immune response, it has been shown to be effective in reducing the SARS-CoV-2 incidence and mortality, especially among the most fragile individuals [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Furthermore, vaccination contributes to the reduction in HCWs’ absences from work, ensuring the protection of HCWs themselves and of patients by guaranteeing the continuity of care services, also ensuring economic savings [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Combining Influenza and COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Strategy to Improve Vaccination Uptake Necessary for Managing the Health Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The intervention groups in all the studies were participants who were informed prior to the study that they would receive a combination of COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccines. Contrarily, the control groups for some studies were participants who were informed that they would only receive the COVID-19 booster vaccine [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. For the remaining studies, the control groups were participants who were left to make a choice between having COVID-19 booster vaccines only or a combination of COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccines [ 1 , 6 , 7 , 11 ].…”