Massachusetts flu vaccination and application for COVID-19 routine vaccination planning

SARS-CoV-2 has affected communities of color at disproportionate rates. In particular, Black Americans have higher COVID-19 mortality rates, rooted in health disparities and institutionalized racism. We describe Massachusetts (MA) influenza (flu) vaccination data by race and vaccination location to inform yearly COVID-19 vaccination plans.

We analyzed self-reported, pooled data from the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (MA-BRFSS) of adults. Using the questions around race and ethnicity and flu vaccination, we calculated location types most visited as a percent of people receiving flu vaccine, stratified by race.

The 3 years combined yielded 6031 completed surveys. Compared to White non-Hispanics, Black non-Hispanics, Hispanics, and other non-White adults combined reported flu vaccination less frequently (p < 0.01). Doctor's office or a health maintenance organization (HMO) were the primary flu vaccination locations among all race subcategories. Within each race category, the top three locations covered 82.7 % of White respondents, while covering only 75.9 % of Hispanic respondents, and 71.0 % of Black respondents. Fewer Hispanic (16.1 %) and Black respondents (13.8 %) were vaccinated at supermarkets or drug stores compared to White respondents (25.2 %).

As COVID-19 vaccination will likely be a yearly occurrence, the above findings can help support future COVID-19 vaccination plans. Since the frequency and location of receipt of flu vaccination varied by race/ethnicity in Massachusetts, the state should ensure specific COVID-19 vaccination locations are available going forward.