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

Abstract

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.

The Uptake of Pneumococcal and Seasonal Influenza Vaccinations Based on Perceptions and Attitudes Toward the COVID-19 Vaccine Among Patients With Diabetes

“…A study conducted in 2022-2023 revealed that high-risk populations show low intent to receive the influenza vaccine. This finding underscores the need to focus on addressing concerns related to the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, to encourage wider acceptance and uptake among these vulnerable groups [ 25 ].…”

Examining the Negative Sentiments Related to Influenza Vaccination from 2017 to 2022: An Unsupervised Deep Learning Analysis of 261,613 Twitter Posts

“…Our findings corroborate a recent report which examined nationally representative data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and found low COVID-19 vaccination rates to be associated with low influenza vaccination rates [ 37 ]. Another study in Greece also found that intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and previous influenza vaccination behavior are strong predictors of influenza vaccine willingness [ 41 ]. Similarly, another study found that individuals who received the influenza vaccine in previous years were also more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine [ 42 ].…”

“…Based on prior studies, it has been identified that there are several reasons why people may be hesitant to receive the influenza vaccine, and these reasons can vary depending on a multitude of factors, such as personal beliefs, experiences, and access to health care [ 41 , 56 ]. Some individuals may have concerns or hold misconceptions about the safety or efficacy of the vaccine.…”

Comparison of Impressions of COVID-19 Vaccination and Influenza Vaccination in Japan by Analyzing Social Media Using Text Mining

“…Intriguingly, individuals who had received a booster dose of the corona vaccine demonstrated a higher inclination to be vaccinated against influenza. However, they also reported that side effects of the corona vaccine and fatigue diminished their willingness to receive the influenza vaccine [ 42 ]. Notably, this study was the first to directly compare public impressions of corona vaccination and influenza vaccination in Japan.…”