Predictors for and coverage of influenza vaccination among HIV-positive patients: a cross-sectional survey

Influenza vaccination is recommended for HIV-infected patients, but limited data about vaccination rates are available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the coverage of and predictors for influenza vaccination among HIV-positive patients.

All HIV-positive patients who visited the HIV out-patient department of the University Hospital of Vienna, Austria, between June and August 2015 were asked to participate in this survey by completing a questionnaire.

A total of 455 HIV-positive patients completed a questionnaire, with 359 male and 96 female participants with a mean age of 46 years. The influenza vaccination rate for the previous season (2014/2015) was 11.9% [n = 54/455; 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.2-15.2%]. Older age was significantly associated with a positive influenza vaccination status. Obtaining information through a medical consultation or receiving a direct recommendation for vaccination by a physician had a significant impact on vaccination behaviour. The probability of being vaccinated against influenza was about 13 times higher among patients who received a recommendation for vaccination by their family physician or by their HIV specialist (P < 0.001). Important reasons for declining vaccination were fear of side effects (39%), not considering influenza as a severe disease (36%) and reasons related to HIV: 17% were worried that the vaccine could worsen the course of HIV infection and 16% believed vaccination would fail because of their compromised immune system.

A low influenza vaccination rate of 11.9% was detected in this HIV-positive cohort. The most effective impact for a positive vaccination status was direct recommendation of the influenza vaccine by the attending physician.