Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination Records
Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is a common, opportunistic pathogen which can cause severe disease, particularly in adults 65+. In Switzerland, vaccination is recommended for children under 5 and for adults with health predispositions; vaccination of healthy adults 65+ is not recommended....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.759602/full |
| _version_ | 1819243057586896896 |
|---|---|
| author | Kyra D. Zens Kyra D. Zens Vasiliki Baroutsou Vasiliki Baroutsou Jan S. Fehr Jan S. Fehr Phung Lang |
| author_facet | Kyra D. Zens Kyra D. Zens Vasiliki Baroutsou Vasiliki Baroutsou Jan S. Fehr Jan S. Fehr Phung Lang |
| author_sort | Kyra D. Zens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is a common, opportunistic pathogen which can cause severe disease, particularly in adults 65+. In Switzerland, vaccination is recommended for children under 5 and for adults with health predispositions; vaccination of healthy adults 65+ is not recommended. In 2020 we conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional survey of vaccination records to evaluate pneumococcal vaccination coverage and factors affecting uptake among adults 18–85. We found that nationwide coverage was 4.5% without significant regional differences. Coverage was comparable between men and women and between those aged 18–39 (3.0%) and 40–64 (3.2%). Coverage was significantly higher among those 65–85 (9.6%). While 2.7% of individuals reporting no health predisposition were vaccinated, 14.8% with asthma or chronic pulmonary disease, 27.1% with immunosuppression, 12.9% with diabetes, 11.6% with heart, liver, or kidney disease, and 25.9% with >1 health risk were vaccinated. Adjusted odds of vaccination for all health predispositions except heart, liver, or kidney disease were significantly increased. Among unvaccinated individuals “not enough information about the topic” and “not suggested by a doctor/healthcare provider” were the major reasons for abstaining from vaccination. Respondents reporting a health predisposition were significantly less likely to report “not at increased risk due to chronic health conditions or age” as a reason for not being vaccinated (3.7% vs. 29.1%) and were more likely to report willingness to be vaccinated in the future compared to those not-at-risk (54.2% vs. 39.9%). Our results indicate that pneumococcal vaccination coverage in Switzerland is low among both individuals 65–85 and among those with predisposing health risks. It appears that at-risk individuals are aware of their increased risk, but feel they do not have enough information on the topic to seek vaccination, or have not been recommended a vaccination by their physician. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:49:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7187bb28d4754f88aae50bdef6aba366 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:49:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-7187bb28d4754f88aae50bdef6aba3662022-12-21T17:43:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-01-01910.3389/fpubh.2021.759602759602Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination RecordsKyra D. Zens0Kyra D. Zens1Vasiliki Baroutsou2Vasiliki Baroutsou3Jan S. Fehr4Jan S. Fehr5Phung Lang6Department of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Viral Immunobiology, Institute for Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandUniversity Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Public and Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandStreptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is a common, opportunistic pathogen which can cause severe disease, particularly in adults 65+. In Switzerland, vaccination is recommended for children under 5 and for adults with health predispositions; vaccination of healthy adults 65+ is not recommended. In 2020 we conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional survey of vaccination records to evaluate pneumococcal vaccination coverage and factors affecting uptake among adults 18–85. We found that nationwide coverage was 4.5% without significant regional differences. Coverage was comparable between men and women and between those aged 18–39 (3.0%) and 40–64 (3.2%). Coverage was significantly higher among those 65–85 (9.6%). While 2.7% of individuals reporting no health predisposition were vaccinated, 14.8% with asthma or chronic pulmonary disease, 27.1% with immunosuppression, 12.9% with diabetes, 11.6% with heart, liver, or kidney disease, and 25.9% with >1 health risk were vaccinated. Adjusted odds of vaccination for all health predispositions except heart, liver, or kidney disease were significantly increased. Among unvaccinated individuals “not enough information about the topic” and “not suggested by a doctor/healthcare provider” were the major reasons for abstaining from vaccination. Respondents reporting a health predisposition were significantly less likely to report “not at increased risk due to chronic health conditions or age” as a reason for not being vaccinated (3.7% vs. 29.1%) and were more likely to report willingness to be vaccinated in the future compared to those not-at-risk (54.2% vs. 39.9%). Our results indicate that pneumococcal vaccination coverage in Switzerland is low among both individuals 65–85 and among those with predisposing health risks. It appears that at-risk individuals are aware of their increased risk, but feel they do not have enough information on the topic to seek vaccination, or have not been recommended a vaccination by their physician.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.759602/fullpneumococcuspneumococcal vaccinationadult vaccine awarenessvaccination coverageepidemiologic surveillance |
| spellingShingle | Kyra D. Zens Kyra D. Zens Vasiliki Baroutsou Vasiliki Baroutsou Jan S. Fehr Jan S. Fehr Phung Lang Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination Records Frontiers in Public Health pneumococcus pneumococcal vaccination adult vaccine awareness vaccination coverage epidemiologic surveillance |
| title | Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination Records |
| title_full | Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination Records |
| title_fullStr | Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination Records |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination Records |
| title_short | Pneumococcal Vaccination Coverage and Uptake Among Adults in Switzerland: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Vaccination Records |
| title_sort | pneumococcal vaccination coverage and uptake among adults in switzerland a nationwide cross sectional study of vaccination records |
| topic | pneumococcus pneumococcal vaccination adult vaccine awareness vaccination coverage epidemiologic surveillance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.759602/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kyradzens pneumococcalvaccinationcoverageanduptakeamongadultsinswitzerlandanationwidecrosssectionalstudyofvaccinationrecords AT kyradzens pneumococcalvaccinationcoverageanduptakeamongadultsinswitzerlandanationwidecrosssectionalstudyofvaccinationrecords AT vasilikibaroutsou pneumococcalvaccinationcoverageanduptakeamongadultsinswitzerlandanationwidecrosssectionalstudyofvaccinationrecords AT vasilikibaroutsou pneumococcalvaccinationcoverageanduptakeamongadultsinswitzerlandanationwidecrosssectionalstudyofvaccinationrecords AT jansfehr pneumococcalvaccinationcoverageanduptakeamongadultsinswitzerlandanationwidecrosssectionalstudyofvaccinationrecords AT jansfehr pneumococcalvaccinationcoverageanduptakeamongadultsinswitzerlandanationwidecrosssectionalstudyofvaccinationrecords AT phunglang pneumococcalvaccinationcoverageanduptakeamongadultsinswitzerlandanationwidecrosssectionalstudyofvaccinationrecords |