Vaccine-related environments and patient preferences in Japanese patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases

To evaluate vaccination rates and identify factors associated with vaccine uptake among patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRD) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

An anonymous survey was conducted between January and May 2023 using Google Forms™. Adult AIRD patients and rheumatologists were asked about demographics, disease characteristics, vaccination status, and attitudes towards vaccination. Logistic regression and random forest analyses were used to identify factors influencing vaccination rates.

A total of 1 637 AIRD patients responded. Vaccination rates were as follows: herpes zoster 8.8%, influenza 86.7%, pneumococcus 29.7%, human papillomavirus 4.3%, hepatitis B virus 8.7%, and severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 92.2%. Physician recommendations were significantly associated with higher vaccination rates. Although knowledge of vaccine efficacy correlated with increased uptake, it did not fully alleviate vaccine hesitancy. Major barriers included concerns about adverse effects and lack of sufficient information.

Physician recommendations and providing comprehensive vaccine information are essential for improving vaccination rates among AIRD patients. Addressing concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy through targeted educational interventions and communication strategies is crucial to enhancing vaccine uptake.