Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Evolution over Time and Associated Factors.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients may have altered immune responses, increasing susceptibility to infections.
• Influenza vaccination is crucial for preventing severe respiratory illness in immunocompromised populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine influenza vaccination coverage in a Spanish cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
• To identify factors associated with influenza vaccination in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 260 MS patients from Zaragoza, Spain (2015-2020).
• Data collected from specialized and primary care records.
• Bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression used to analyze vaccination associations.

Main Results:

• Vaccination coverage increased from 20.4% (2015-2017) to 41.5% (2019-2020).
• Previous season's vaccination (ORa: 16.47–390.22) and hospital vaccination unit recommendation (ORa: 2.44–3.96) were significant predictors.
• Coverage remains intermediate compared to other countries.

Conclusions:

• Influenza vaccination rates in Spanish MS patients show a positive trend but require improvement.
• Hospital vaccination unit recommendations and prior vaccination status are key drivers of coverage.
• Enhancing patient referral to hospital vaccination units can increase vaccination rates.