COVID-19’s Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and Older
There is considerable overlap in age-related risk factors for influenza and COVID-19. We explored the impact of the pandemic on anticipated influenza and COVID-19 vaccination behaviour in the 2020/2021 season. In May 2020, we conducted online surveys of Canadian adults 50 years and older via a marke...
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Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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Series: | Vaccines |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/4/346 |
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author | Nancy M. Waite Jennifer A. Pereira Sherilyn K. D. Houle Vladimir Gilca Melissa K. Andrew |
author_facet | Nancy M. Waite Jennifer A. Pereira Sherilyn K. D. Houle Vladimir Gilca Melissa K. Andrew |
author_sort | Nancy M. Waite |
collection | DOAJ |
description | There is considerable overlap in age-related risk factors for influenza and COVID-19. We explored the impact of the pandemic on anticipated influenza and COVID-19 vaccination behaviour in the 2020/2021 season. In May 2020, we conducted online surveys of Canadian adults 50 years and older via a market research panel platform, as part of a series of annual surveys to understand experiences with influenza. Given the current pandemic, respondents were also asked about COVID-19’s impact on their vaccination decision-making for the 2020/2021 season. Of 1001 respondents aged 50–64 years, 470 (47.0%) originally intended on receiving the influenza vaccine and still planned to do so, while 200 (20%) respondents who had planned to abstain now reported willingness to receive the vaccine due to COVID-19. In the 65+ age group, 2525 (72.1%) reported that they had planned to be vaccinated and that COVID-19 had not changed their mind, while 285 individuals (8.1%) reported that they had initially planned to forgo the vaccine but now intended to receive it. Reasons for this change included COVID-19’s demonstration of the devastating potential of viruses; and to protect against influenza, and decrease vulnerability to COVID-19. If the COVID-19 vaccine was available, 69.1% of 50–64 year olds and 79.5% of those 65 years and older reported they would opt to receive it. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a sobering demonstration of the dangers of infectious disease, and the value of vaccines, with implications for influenza and COVID-19 immunization programs. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:36:48Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-83f24344f09c406496c6f65d90bd884d |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2076-393X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:36:48Z |
publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Vaccines |
spelling | doaj.art-83f24344f09c406496c6f65d90bd884d2023-11-21T14:14:47ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2021-04-019434610.3390/vaccines9040346COVID-19’s Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and OlderNancy M. Waite0Jennifer A. Pereira1Sherilyn K. D. Houle2Vladimir Gilca3Melissa K. Andrew4School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON N2G 1C5, CanadaJRL Research & Consulting Inc., Mississauga, ON L5G 0A3, CanadaSchool of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON N2G 1C5, CanadaInstitut National de Sante Publique du Quebec, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1E 7G9, CanadaDepartment of Medicine (Geriatrics), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 2E1, CanadaThere is considerable overlap in age-related risk factors for influenza and COVID-19. We explored the impact of the pandemic on anticipated influenza and COVID-19 vaccination behaviour in the 2020/2021 season. In May 2020, we conducted online surveys of Canadian adults 50 years and older via a market research panel platform, as part of a series of annual surveys to understand experiences with influenza. Given the current pandemic, respondents were also asked about COVID-19’s impact on their vaccination decision-making for the 2020/2021 season. Of 1001 respondents aged 50–64 years, 470 (47.0%) originally intended on receiving the influenza vaccine and still planned to do so, while 200 (20%) respondents who had planned to abstain now reported willingness to receive the vaccine due to COVID-19. In the 65+ age group, 2525 (72.1%) reported that they had planned to be vaccinated and that COVID-19 had not changed their mind, while 285 individuals (8.1%) reported that they had initially planned to forgo the vaccine but now intended to receive it. Reasons for this change included COVID-19’s demonstration of the devastating potential of viruses; and to protect against influenza, and decrease vulnerability to COVID-19. If the COVID-19 vaccine was available, 69.1% of 50–64 year olds and 79.5% of those 65 years and older reported they would opt to receive it. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a sobering demonstration of the dangers of infectious disease, and the value of vaccines, with implications for influenza and COVID-19 immunization programs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/4/346influenzaCOVIDolder adultsdecision-makingsurvey |
spellingShingle | Nancy M. Waite Jennifer A. Pereira Sherilyn K. D. Houle Vladimir Gilca Melissa K. Andrew COVID-19’s Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and Older Vaccines influenza COVID older adults decision-making survey |
title | COVID-19’s Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and Older |
title_full | COVID-19’s Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and Older |
title_fullStr | COVID-19’s Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and Older |
title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19’s Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and Older |
title_short | COVID-19’s Impact on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against Influenza and COVID-19 during the 2020/2021 Season: Results from an Online Survey of Canadian Adults 50 Years and Older |
title_sort | covid 19 s impact on willingness to be vaccinated against influenza and covid 19 during the 2020 2021 season results from an online survey of canadian adults 50 years and older |
topic | influenza COVID older adults decision-making survey |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/4/346 |
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