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Influenza vaccine uptake among at-risk adults (aged 16-64 years) in the UK: a retrospective database analysis
Simon Oakley1, Julien Bouchet2, Paul Costello3
1Sanofi Pasteur, 410 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, RG6 1PT, UK. simon.oakley@sanofi.com.
Insights
Annual influenza vaccination uptake in UK adults aged 16-64 in at-risk groups remains low, below national targets. This highlights a need to improve access and awareness of flu vaccine benefits for vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Immunization
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Annual influenza vaccination is recommended in the UK for adults aged 16-64 years within clinical at-risk groups.
- Vaccine uptake rates in the UK have historically fallen short of national and international targets.
- This study analyzes influenza vaccine uptake trends in at-risk adults from the 2015-2016 season onwards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze influenza vaccine uptake among adults aged 16-64 years in clinical at-risk groups in the UK.
- To identify trends and variations in vaccine coverage over recent influenza seasons.
- To assess the gap between current uptake and national vaccination ambitions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of influenza vaccine coverage data in the UK.
- Data extracted from publicly available sources.
- Inclusion of clinically at-risk individuals aged 16-64 years, including pregnant women, as defined by Public Health England.
Main Results:
- Consistently low influenza vaccination coverage rates (42.4-52.4% in 2018-2019) were observed across the UK in eligible at-risk adults.
- Coverage varied by clinical risk group, being lowest in morbidly obese patients and highest in diabetic patients in 2018-2019.
- Rates were below the national ambition of ≥75% in all clinical risk groups, showing a decrease between 2015 and 2019 with significant regional variations.
Conclusions:
- Influenza vaccine uptake in UK adults aged 16-64 in at-risk groups is substantially below national ambitions.
- Suboptimal uptake leaves many vulnerable individuals at high risk of severe influenza and complications.
- There is a heightened need for healthcare professionals to address low uptake, especially in at-risk patients, and for targeted measures to increase access and awareness of flu vaccine benefits.
Background:
In the UK, annual influenza vaccination is currently recommended for adults aged 16-64 years who are in a clinical at-risk group. Despite recommendations, rates of vaccine uptake in the UK have historically been low and below national and international targets. This study aims to analyse vaccine uptake among adults in clinical at-risk groups from the 2015-2016 influenza season to the present.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of influenza vaccine coverage in the UK was conducted using data extracted from publicly available sources. Clinically at-risk individuals (as defined by Public Health England), including pregnant women, aged 16-64 years, were included in this study.
Results:
Influenza vaccination coverage rates across the UK in adults aged 16-64 years in a clinical at-risk group have been consistently low over the past 5 years, with only 48.0, 42.4, 44.1 and 52.4% of eligible patients in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland receiving their annual influenza vaccination during the 2018-2019 influenza season. Influenza vaccine coverage was lowest in patients with morbid obesity and highest in patients with diabetes in 2018-2019. Coverage rates were below current national ambitions of ≥75% in all clinical risk groups. In these clinical at-risk groups, influenza vaccine coverage decreased between 2015 and 2019, and there was considerable regional variation.
Conclusions:
Uptake of the influenza vaccine by adults aged 16-64 years in a clinical at-risk group was substantially below the national ambitions. As a result, many individuals in the UK remain at high risk of developing severe influenza or complications. Given that people who are vulnerable to COVID-19 are also at increased risk of complications from influenza, during the 2020-2021 season, there is a heightened need for healthcare professionals across the UK to address suboptimal vaccine uptake, particularly in at-risk patients. Healthcare professionals and policymakers should consider measures targeted at increasing access to and awareness of the clinical benefits of the influenza vaccine.
