Abstract
BACKGROUND
Vaccination against seasonal influenza is far from universal among groups specifically recommended for vaccine. There is little research to guide communication with patients about vaccination.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the utility of the self-reported intention to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza in predicting vaccine uptake, reasons for being unvaccinated, and willingness to be vaccinated based on a doctor’s recommendation.
METHODS
We analyzed data from a subset of respondents (n = 1,527) specifically recommended by the ACIP for vaccination against seasonal influenza who participated in two national surveys of adults age 18 and older conducted in November 2008 and March 2009.
RESULTS
Over half who intended to be vaccinated had been vaccinated. Compared to those without intentions, those with intentions were one-fifth as likely (p < 0.01) to cite lack of need and five times more likely (p < 0.01) to cite “not getting around to being vaccinated” as main reasons for not being vaccinated. Roughly two-fifths of those without the intention to be vaccinated indicated a willingness to be vaccinated based on a doctor’s recommendation.
CONCLUSIONS
Asking simple questions about the intention to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza may be an efficient means of identifying patients with whom extended discussion of vaccine benefits is warranted.
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Acknowledgement
We received funding from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to collect the survey data used in this study. The funding was provided, and the project conducted, without consideration of specific GSK products. GSK played no role in the selection and design of the analysis presented here, the development of the findings, or the review or approval of this manuscript. RAND retains full ownership and control over the data collected as part of its contract with GSK. The authors wish to thank Robert Brook for his thoughtful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript.
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Dr. Lurie was an employee of the RAND Corporation in Arlington, VA at the time the study reported here was conducted and this manuscript originally submitted.
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Harris, K.M., Maurer, J. & Lurie, N. Do People Who Intend to Get a Flu Shot Actually Get One?. J GEN INTERN MED 24, 1311–1313 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-1126-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-1126-2