Status of influenza vaccination in an elderty community in Shanghai during the COVID-19 pandemic / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the status and the influencing factors of influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic among community-dwelling elderly in Shanghai.Methods:A questionnaire survey on influenza vaccination among community-dwelling elderly was conducted in Shanghai Taikang elderly community in November 2020. The information on demographic characteristics, reasons for refusal of vaccination, and measures for increasing vaccination rates were collected. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between influenza vaccination and sociodemographic and health-related characteristics.Results:Among 520 respondents, the vaccination rate was 30.58% (159/520). Compared with unvaccinated group, elderly in vaccinated group was older ( t=16.04, P=0.003)and more educated(χ2=8.16, P=0.043). The elderly with comorbid heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tumor, asthma, Parkinson′s disease were likely to have vaccination ( OR=1.45, 2.16, 1.23, 1.64, 5.83; all P<0.05).The reasons for the elderly not to be vaccinated were concerns of side effects (46.26%, 167/361), lack of doctors′ recommendations (24.10%, 87/361), and unnecessary for people with good health conditions (19.39%, 70/361). The independent factors of influenza vaccine awareness rate were healthcare providers′ recommendations ( OR=9.18, 95% CI5.47-16.32), vaccination at home( OR=11.79, 95% CI6.87-21.66),vaccination available in community( OR=8.08, 95% CI8.08-15.45),the mandatory requirement ( OR=4.61,95% CI4.61-10.11),free of charge( OR=7.48, 95% CI4.08-15.12). Conclusion:Influenza vaccination coverage among the elderly in Shanghai is still low even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy interventions, awareness education and strengthening the primary healthcare resources may contribute to achieving a high influenza vaccine coverage rate in the community-dwelling elderly