Influenza Vaccination Patterns Among At-risk Patients During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights -

A new study from the University of Zurich has found that the Covid-19 pandemic may have encouraged at-risk patients to get vaccinated against influenza for the first time. The research, which analyzed claims data from four influenza seasons, discovered that previous vaccinations are strong predictors of subsequent vaccinations. The study's findings suggest that health care professionals should actively address at-risk patients' vaccination history to recommend vaccination in future seasons.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed claims data from four influenza seasons (2018/2019-2021/2022) to determine influenza vaccination uptake rate (VUR) among at-risk patients.
  • The cohort subgroup consisted of 138,526 patients, of which 56% were never vaccinated and 11% were vaccinated in all seasons.
  • 14.3% of previously unvaccinated patients were vaccinated for the first time in the 2020/2021 season, which coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • The strongest predictor for vaccination was history of vaccinations in all previous seasons, with an odds ratio (OR) of 56.20 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 53.62-58.90.
  • The study concluded that previous vaccinations are predictors for subsequent vaccinations and health care professionals should actively address at-risk patients' vaccination history to recommend vaccination in future seasons.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and was published in the journal Infection.

Statistics:

  • Overall influenza vaccination uptake rate (VUR) ranged between 21.8% (2018/2019) and 29.1% (2020/2021).
  • 56% of patients in the cohort subgroup were never vaccinated.
  • 11% of patients in the cohort subgroup were vaccinated in all four seasons.
  • 14.3% of previously unvaccinated patients were vaccinated for the first time in the 2020/2021 season.
  • The odds ratio (OR) for vaccination history was 56.20 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 53.62-58.90.

Sources:

  • Infection, 2024;52(4):1287-1295.
  • University of Zurich, Institute of Primary Care, Pestalozzistr 24, Ch-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Thomas Rosemann, Oliver Senn, Stefania Di Gangi, and Christophe Bagnoud, authors of the research.
  • NewsRx. Researchers from University of Zurich Provide Details of New Studies and Findings in the Area of COVID-19 (Influenza Vaccination Patterns Among At-risk Patients During the Covid-19 Pandemic-a Retrospective Cross-sectional Study Based On Claims ...). Vaccine Weekly. September 17, 2025; p 636.