Acceptance of pneumococcal vaccination in older adults: A general population-based survey

Junjie Huang; Yijun Bai; Hanyue Ding; Boyuan Wang; Chun Ho Ngai; Kin-On Kwok; Eliza L Y Wong; Martin C S Wong; Eng-Kiong Yeoh

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.024

Acceptance of pneumococcal vaccination in older adults: A general population-based survey

Vaccine. 2021 Nov 16;39(47):6883-6893. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.024. Epub 2021 Oct 25.

Authors

Junjie Huang¹, Yijun Bai¹, Hanyue Ding¹, Boyuan Wang¹, Chun Ho Ngai¹, Kin-On Kwok¹, Eliza L Y Wong¹, Martin C S Wong², Eng-Kiong Yeoh³

Affiliations

¹ The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
² The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; School of Public Health, The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: wong_martin@cuhk.edu.hk.
³ The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: yeoh_ek@cuhk.edu.hk.

PMID: 34711437
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.024

Abstract

Background: Pneumococcal infection is a leading cause of disability and death globally. The Hong Kong Government has launched two programmes for pneumococcal vaccination - The Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) and the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP). This study aimed to examine the enabling factors, obstacles and perception of pneumococcal vaccination, and their association with its uptake in a general Chinese population.

Methods: We performed a population-based, telephone survey in the general public aged 65 or above via simple random sampling. A validated survey based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) was used. Their socio-demographic information; history of previous participation in the GVP or VSS; and self-perceived health status were captured. Binary logistic regression models were constructed to examine the factors independently associated with vaccination.

Results: A total of 1,000 respondents were enrolled in the study, with 402 (40.2%) respondents having intention to join the GVP/VSS in 12 months. Respondents with long-term medical consultant and medication (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 1.541, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.008-2.356, p = 0.046); high levels of perceived susceptibility of infections (aOR = 3.624, 95 %CI: 2.318-5.665, p < 0.001); high levels of perceived benefits of vaccine (aOR = 1.699, 95 %CI: 1.153-2.504, p < 0.001); recommendations from government (aOR = 8.025, 95 %CI: 4.771-13.497, p < 0.001) or physicians (aOR = 7.399, 95 %CI: 3.472-15.764, p = 0.008); and high levels of self-efficacy (aOR = 3.045, 95 %CI: 1.458-6.362, p = 0.003) were more likely to have intention to participate in the vaccination programme.

Conclusions: The acceptance rate of pneumococcal vaccination programme remained suboptimal in the population. The government and physicians should be involved in the promotion of pneumococcal vaccination and GVP/VSS by increasing perceived benefits and self-efficacy, and reducing barriers towards vaccination among the target population. More studies are required to confirm our findings in other settings.

Keywords: Acceptance; Pneumococcal infection; Vaccine.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Pneumococcal Infections* / epidemiology
Pneumococcal Infections* / prevention & control
Pneumococcal Vaccines
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vaccination*

Substances

Pneumococcal Vaccines