RESUMO
Background: In Canada, influenza vaccination rates are below recommended targets, with pharmacies the leading setting for vaccine administration. This work aimed to determine the Canadian public's current knowledge, attitudes and practices related to pharmacy-based influenza vaccination services. Methods: We surveyed 3000 Canadian residents aged ≥18 years using a cross-sectional, self-reported, online structured questionnaire between December 5 and 21, 2022. A representative survey population was recruited from the Léger Opinion (LEO) consumer panel. Data were weighted by age, region and gender, based on 2021 census data. Results: During the 2022-2023 season, 56.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54%-59.2%) of respondents reported receiving an influenza vaccine at a pharmacy, including 57.5% (95% CI, 54.2%-60.8%) of respondents considered to be at high risk of complications from influenza. Among respondents previously vaccinated at a pharmacy, 94.1% (95% CI, 91%-97.2%) were satisfied with the experience, citing convenience, accessibility and availability as factors influencing their decision. Among all respondents, 29.3% (95% CI, 27.5%-31.1%) reported that a pharmacist's recommendation for the influenza vaccine would affect their decision to be vaccinated, yet only 10.4% (95% CI, 5.9%-15%) who had discussions with a pharmacist specifically discussed the importance of influenza vaccination. Conclusion: Canadians are satisfied with pharmacy-based influenza vaccinations and value pharmacist recommendations. Pharmacists have an opportunity to boost influenza vaccination coverage in Canada by providing counselling on the importance of influenza vaccination to those seeking their advice on other health care needs, including younger adults and those with risk factors for serious illness from influenza.
RESUMO
Vaccination rates against both influenza and COVID-19 fall short of targets, especially among persons at risk of influenza complications. To gain insights into strategies to boost influenza vaccine coverage, we surveyed 3000 Canadian residents aged ≥ 18 years and examined their knowledge and receipt of co-administered influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. During the 2022-2023 influenza season, 70% of respondents reported being aware the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines could be co-administered, but only 26.2% (95% CI, 23.6% to 28.8%) of respondents received them together. The most common reason for not getting the vaccines together was receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine before the annual influenza vaccine was available (reported by 34.5% [31.2% to 37.7%]). Lack of interest in co-administration was reported by 22.6% (20.8% to 24.3%); of this group, 20.8% (17.1% to 24.5%) reported seeing no benefit in receiving the two vaccines together and 17.2% (13.5% to 20.9%) were concerned about compounded adverse effects from the two vaccines. These results support the willingness of most Canadians to receive COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time. Co-administration is a viable strategy to improve uptake of influenza vaccines, especially if health professionals proactively offer education and co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 (or other) vaccines as appropriate to clinical need.
RESUMO
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that 80% of high-risk persons, including adults aged ≥65 years and 18-64 years with certain comorbidities, be vaccinated against influenza. During the 2022-2023 influenza season, we conducted an online survey of 3000 Canadian residents aged ≥18 years randomly recruited from the Léger Opinion (LEO) consumer panel to assess knowledge and perceptions about influenza vaccination as well as survey self-reported vaccination rates. Overall, 47.3% received an influenza vaccination during the 2022-2023 season. Vaccination rates among persons aged 18-64 years with high-risk medical conditions (n = 686) and among adults aged ≥65 years (n = 708) were 46.4% and 77.4%, respectively; 77.8% and 88.5%, respectively, believed influenza vaccination was important for people at high risk from influenza. Only 35.8% of adults aged 18-64 years with comorbidities were aware of being at high risk; 66.0% of this group was vaccinated against influenza, compared with 37.0% of those unaware of being at high-risk. During 2022-2023, 51.3% of people aged ≥65 years and 43.0% of people aged 18-64 years with comorbidities discussed influenza vaccination with healthcare providers. These findings suggest gaps in education regarding the importance of influenza vaccination among people at risk of influenza complications.
