Associations between 5-year influenza vaccination and sociodemographic factors and healthcare access among Arkansans

Vaccine. 2022 Jun 15;40(27):3727-3731. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.031. Epub 2022 May 20.

Abstract

Despite wide availability, only 50.2% of the United States (US) adult population and 50.3% of adult Arkansans were vaccinated for influenza during the 2020-2021 influenza season. The proportion of the population vaccinated for influenza varies by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, rural/urban residence, and income. However, measures of healthcare access have not been adequately investigated as predictors of influenza vaccination. Using a large, statewide random sample, this study examined 5-year influenza vaccination among Arkansans by sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, rural/urban residence), general vaccine hesitancy, and healthcare access (having a primary care provider, having health insurance, forgoing health care due to cost, and frequency of doctor checkups). Older age, being female, being Hispanic, having a bachelor's degree or higher, having a primary care provider, visiting a doctor for a checkup in the past two years, and lack of hesitancy towards vaccines were significant predictors of receiving influenza vaccination.

Keywords: Healthcare access; Hispanic; Influenza vaccine; Vaccine hesitancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Humans
  • Influenza Vaccines*
  • Influenza, Human* / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Sociodemographic Factors
  • United States
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines