Receipt of Routine Vaccines May Be Predictive of COVID-19 Vaccination Status

Adults who received influenza and pneumococcal vaccines were also likely to receive COVID-19 vaccines, according to research presented at IDWeek 2022, held October 19-23 in Washington, D.C.

With the onset of the 2022-2023 flu season and the availability of the bivalent COVID-19 booster, pharmacists across the country have been encouraging customers to receive both vaccines—with many pharmacists recommending that patients receive both at once. However, little research has been done on whether receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is associated with an individual receiving other routine vaccines.

The researchers enrolled patients aged 18 years or older who were hospitalized at Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia, with acute respiratory infection symptoms. The patients were interviewed, and medical records reviewed, to collect demographic information, medical history, prior vaccination history, and social behaviors during the pandemic.

Investigators enrolled 1056 patients who had available vaccination records. Within this cohort, 509 patients (48.2%) had been administered at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine dose. Researchers found that patients who received flu vaccines were more likely to also have been given at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine when compared with those who hadn’t not (71.6% vs 35.4% P =<.0001; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.3; 95% CI, 2.4-4.4).

Additionally, patients aged 65 years and older who had the pneumococcal vaccine were more likely to have at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine when compared with those who had not (75.9% vs 48.8% P =<.0001; aOR: 3.0; 95% CI, 1.8-5.1).

Because study results indicated that receipt of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines was strongly linked to also receiving the COVID-19, the researchers concluded, “Continued efforts are needed to reach adults who remain hesitant to not only receive COVID-19 vaccines, but also other vaccines that lessen the burden of respiratory illness.”

Reference

1. Choi C, Tippett A, Salazar LW, et al. Association between receipt of COVID-19, influenza, and pneumococcal vaccination. Presented at: IDWeek 2022; October 19-23, 2022; Washington, D.C. Poster 1934.