Globally, among infectious diseases, influenza is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Individuals with chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are particularly vulnerable to complications of an influenza infection. The European Society of Cardiology recommended annual influenza vaccinations for patients with cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies have suggested a link between influenza and increased risk of cardiovascular events. Despite its proven benefits, little is known about the reason for the underutilization of influenza vaccination. We present the findings of an assessment of patients' perception of the influenza vaccine and the reason for its underutilization, by data mining from Twitter.
Keywords: Influenza vaccine; flu shot; flu vaccine; tweeter; tweeting.