Covid-19 pandemic: an opportunity to seize to increase awareness and vaccine coverage in at-risk populations

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Oct 3;17(10):3472-3473. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1926760. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Abstract

We aimed to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the risk perception and attitudes concerning influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in an at-risk population. We performed an online survey between July 29th and October 12th 2020 in patients at risk of severe influenza and/or pneumococcal disease recruited from Ipsos internal panel or through AVNIR (Associations VacciNation Immunodéprimées Réalité), a group of patient associations. Among the 2177 respondents, 1350 were female (62%), median age was 58 years (IQR 47-69), 62% were immunocompromised. In total, 86% of respondents declared being favorable to vaccination in general and felt at high-risk of more severe forms of Covid-19 (81%), pneumococcal disease (76%) and influenza (74%). More than half (52%, 388/746) of patients were eager to be vaccinated annually against influenza for the next 2020/2021 season and pneumococcal disease in the future: 62% (376/606). In this sample of patients at-risk of severe forms of influenza, pneumococcal diseases and Covid-19, the self-perception of risk for these three diseases and positive opinion on vaccination in general were high. It is very likely that the pandemic will lead to an increase in influenza and pneumococcal vaccine coverage in this at-risk population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Influenza Vaccines*
  • Influenza, Human* / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human* / prevention & control
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines

Grants and funding

A prospective web-based survey was conducted by Ipsos, the largest French company in market and public opinion research, from July 29th, 2020, to October 12th, 2020. The sample has been previously targeted and investigated throughout the Ipsos Access panel and through AVNIR. Ipsos was in charge of the recruitment of 800 from its own panel, of the hosting of the whole sample data of 2177 respondents and achieved data processing.Ipsos was funded by Pfizer.Pfizer contributed to the study design with PL and AVNIR.Pfizer had no role in data analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.