‘What have you HEARD about the HERD?’ Does education about local influenza vaccination coverage and herd immunity affect willingness to vaccinate?

Abstract

Background Vaccination protects individuals directly and communities indirectly by reducing transmission. We aimed to determine whether information about herd immunity and local vaccination coverage could change an individual’s vaccination plans and concern about influenza. Methods We surveyed Minnesota residents 18 years during the 2016 Minnesota State Fair. Participants were asked to identify the definition of herd immunity, to report their history of and plans to receive influenza vaccine, to report their concern about influenza, and to estimate the reported influenza vaccination coverage in their county. After providing educational information about herd immunity and local vaccination rates, we reassessed vaccination plans and concerns. We used logistic regression to estimate predicted percentages for those willing to be vaccinated, for concern about influenza, and for changes in these outcomes after the intervention. We then compared those individuals with and without prior knowledge of herd immunity, accounting for other characteristics. Results Among 554 participants, the median age was 57 years; most were female (65.9%), white (91.0%), and non-Hispanic/Latino (93.9%). Overall, 37.2% of participants did not know about herd immunity and 75.6% thought that the influenza vaccination coverage in their county was higher than it was reported. Those not knowledgeable about herd immunity were significantly less likely than those knowledgeable about the concept to report plans to be vaccinated at baseline (67.8% versus 78.9%; p = 0.004). After learning about herd immunity and influenza vaccination coverage, the proportion of those not knowledgeable about herd immunity who were willing to be vaccinated increased significantly by 7.3 percentage points (p = 0.001). Educating participants eliminated the significant difference in the proportion planning to be vaccinated between these two groups (80.1% of those knowledgeable and 75.1% of those who were not initially knowledgeable became willing; p = 0.148). Conclusions Education about herd immunity and local vaccination coverage could be a useful tool for increasing willingness to vaccinate, generating benefits both to individuals and communities.

Respiratory Virus Infections in People Over 14 Years of Age in Poland in the Epidemic Season of 2017/18

“…Thus, those who cannot be vaccinated against influenza, for instance, due to allergies to vaccine ingredients, such as gelatin or some antibiotics, which often concerns children below the age of 6 months, would also be protected to an extent on the basis of collective resistance (CDC 2018b). Previous studies have shown that the vaccination coverage in a population should range from 33% to 73% to maximize the benefits of collective immunity and to reduce the transmission of influenza viruses (Logan et al 2018;Plans-Rubió 2012). The present report demonstrates that influenza viruses can infect an adult person of any age.…”

Demographic and psychological correlates of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination intentions in a sample of Canadian families

“…It is important that public health workers recognize the uniqueness in the Canadian context as well as the uniqueness of the family context in predicting speed and likelihood of vaccination. Understanding families' current intentions to vaccinate for SARS-CoV-2 will allow policymakers and public health officials to develop targeted messaging campaigns to those with the greatest degree of vaccine hesitancy (see e.g., [74], [75]). Careful planning for widespread COVID-19 vaccination should begin now [2] so that, when a vaccine is developed, public health information can be disseminated in a targeted manner.…”

Survey of Adult Influenza Vaccination Practices and Perspectives Among US Primary Care Providers (2016–2017 Influenza Season)

“…In a survey of university students, more than 70% of unvaccinated respondents agreed that receiving information about protecting vulnerable individuals would make them more likely to receive the influenza vaccine, and a recent survey in Minnesota showed that educating respondents who were not previously knowledgeable about herd immunity increased their willingness to receive influenza vaccine. 22,23 Nuanced messaging that focuses on the benefits of protecting people close to adult patients warrants additional investigation in controlled studies as a potential strategy to increase vaccine uptake.…”