Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in Australian adults: a systematic review of coverage and factors associated with uptake

Abstract

BackgroundIn the absence of an adult vaccination register, coverage estimates for influenza and pneumococcal vaccination come from surveys and other data sources.MethodsSystematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining vaccination coverage in Australian adults from 1990 to 2015, focusing on groups funded under the National Immunisation Program, and intervals prior to and following the introduction of universal funding.ResultsTwenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria; 18 used self-report to determine vaccination status. There were 130 unique estimates of coverage extracted. Among adults aged ≥65y, during the period of universal funding (1999-onwards), the summary estimate of annual influenza vaccination coverage from 27 point estimates was 74.8 % (95 % CI 73.4–76.2 %; range 63.9–82.4 %); prior to this period (1992–1998) from 10 point estimates it was 61.3 % (95 % CI 58.0–64.6 %; range 44.3–71.3 %). For the period of universal funding for pneumococcal vaccination (2005-onwards) the summary estimate for coverage was 56.0 % (95 % CI 53.2–58.8 %; range 51.2–72.8 %, 10 point estimates); prior to 2005 it was 35.4 % (95 % CI 18.8–52.0 %; range 15.4–45.2 %). Coverage for both vaccines was significantly higher following the introduction of universal funding. Influenza vaccination coverage in those aged 18–65 years with a medical indication was lower but data were not combined. Seven studies reported on Aboriginal Australians with three studies reporting five coverage estimates for influenza vaccination in adults ≥65 years (range 71 % - 89 %).ConclusionsAdult influenza and pneumococcal vaccination coverage has increased since the introduction of universal funding, but remains sub-optimal, with pneumococcal coverage lower than influenza. Implications: This review highlights the need for more coverage data overall and in high risk groups, to support public health programs to improve coverage.

Impact of the Hajj on pneumococcal carriage and the effect of various pneumococcal vaccines

“…Following inclusion, however vaccination coverage increased to 31.4-51.2%. Vaccination rates in at risk-Australian pilgrims after inclusion (14.2-28.7%) were lower than in overall Australian population of similar age range with vaccination rate varying 50.3-72.8% [49]. Continuing medical and health education is necessary to improve the vaccination rate.…”

Challenges in assessing the burden of sepsis and understanding the inequalities of sepsis outcomes between National Health Systems: secular trends in sepsis and infection incidence and mortality in Germany

“…Interestingly, the vaccination rate against influenza for elderly above age 65 years who belong to the at risk population is only 35.3% in Germany compared to 69.1, 71.1 and 74.6% in the US, UK and Australia, respectively [29]. Similar differences apply for the vaccination rates against pneumococci in the elderly (Germany 31.4% [30], US 63.6% [31], England 69.8% [32] and Australia 56% [33]). Furthermore, it has been estimated that 1500 to 4500 deaths through sepsis in Germany could be avoided each year by prevention of health care associated infections [34].…”

Why Infants Rarely Die of COVID-19 and Morbidity and Mortality Rates Vary by Location: Pneumococcal and Hib Vaccinations as Possible Means to Mitigate Future Pandemics

“…* Gervaix, et al, 2014;^ Mereckiene, 2017;+ WHO, 2020;> Blank, et al, 2018; # estimated from accumulated yearly vaccinations. Austria (Richter, et al, 2019); France (Contou, et al, 2020); Germany (Theidel, et al, 2013;Pletz, et al, 2016); Greece (Maraki, et al, 2018);US (FluVaxView;Wateska, et al, 2020;Zhang, et al, 2018;Sings, 2017;Williams, et al, 2016); UK (Tolman, et al, 2016); Australia (Hull, et al, 2019;Yang, et al, 2019;Dyda, et al, 2016); Japan (Naito, et al, 2020;Takeda, et al, 2019;Shibata, et al, 2019;Kajikawa, et al, 2019;Kumar, et al, 2014); S. Korea (Song, et al, 2013;Yang, et al, 2015;Park, et al, 2019;Yang, et al, 2020); Italy (Giammanco, et al, 2018;Baldo, et al, 2016;Tozzi, et al, 2014;Fedson, 2011); Spain (Ciruela, et al, 2018;Arencibia Jiménez, et al, 2014;Fedson, 2011); Canada (Kaplan, et al, 2019;Farmanara, et al, 2018); Portugal (Kislaya, et al, 2019); Netherlands (Vestjens, et al, 2019); Switzerland ** NB no current data available (Büla, et al, 1996). (TABLE 1).…”