Hesitancy Is Lower for Influenza Vaccines Than Newer Ones for COVID-19
U.S. adults consider the influenza vaccine to have a better safety profile than the one for COVID-19, and that is a key factor in hesitancy as opposed to the willingness to receive them, according to a new survey. Here’s how the authors suggest using the information to increase uptake with coadministration.
BOSTON – Pharmacists probably have noticed that potential vaccine recipients often show less hesitancy about receiving season influenza vaccines than those for COVID-19. A new study advises how that should affect communications when promoting the vaccines.
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health researchers and colleagues point out, “As the viral landscape shifts, there is new urgency to understand U.S. adults’ views on relevant vaccines, including whether they perceive annual vaccines similarly, or whether there are differences that may impact coadministration and communications. To guide programmatic and policy decision-making, we examined attitudes toward COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in this survey study.”
In the report published in JAMA Network Open, data come from a survey conducted July 7 to 16, 2023, among a nationally representative, probability-based sample of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older. Harvard T. H. Chan researchers designed the survey with aid from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and National Public Health Information Coalition staff.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2813188?resultClick=24
Overall, 44% of the 3,232 invited participants completed the survey, responding to questions related to attitudes toward COVID-19 and influenza vaccine effectiveness and safety, vaccination intentions, and major reasons for hesitancy.
The study team examined data for adults overall and adults aged 50 years and older, who may have a higher risk of severe illness. Data were weighted to US Census parameters to produce nationally representative estimates.
Results indicated that nearly equal shares said that COVID-19 vaccines (42%) and influenza vaccines (40%) are very effective at protecting against serious illness or hospitalization.
“Views diverged on vaccine safety, where a higher share said influenza vaccines are very safe compared with COVID-19 vaccines (55% vs 41%),” study authors note. “Similarly, intentions differed: 49% said they are very likely to get an influenza vaccine this season, compared with 36% saying the same for an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Patterns were similar among adults aged 50 years and older.”
Among more hesitant adults, according to the researchers, “concerns about updated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines differed. Thematic differences were evident, with greater shares of COVID-19 vaccine–hesitant adults citing major reasons for hesitancy as wanting more research done, worries about vaccine safety and effectiveness, and believing they are already well-protected through prior vaccination or infection, compared with influenza vaccine–hesitant adults.”
Even though the same government agencies and pharmaceutical companies were promoting COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, the survey found that higher shares of COVID-19 vaccine–hesitant adults cited distrust of these agencies and companies, with results similar among adults aged 50 years and older.
“Subanalyses by degrees of hesitancy (somewhat, not too, and not at all likely) show that many differences in reasons for hesitation held along the continuum, with greater proportions having concerns about COVID-19 vaccines at each degree of hesitancy,” the authors add.
They point out that the COVID-19 pandemic was the largest-scale infectious disease outbreak in a generation, killing more than 1 million people in the United States over 3 years.
“By historical standards, a vaccine was developed in record time, with a high safety profile and high effectiveness—greater than that of the influenza vaccine in many years,” the authors wrote. “Despite this, U.S. adults, including older adults most at risk of serious illness, are more hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines than influenza vaccines, with divergent concerns, as shown in this survey study.”
What does this mean for pharmacists and other health professionals? The study suggests they should expect limited demand for COVID-19 vaccines and moderate interest in influenza vaccines.
“Where coadministration is offered, communications should lead with the more popular influenza vaccine, provide consistent messaging on safety and effectiveness of both vaccines and address vaccine-specific beliefs, such as the limits of protection from prior COVID-19 infection,” the authors advise. “Public health agencies should also work with trusted messengers to build trust.”
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