Disparities and temporal trends in pneumococcal vaccination uptake among older adults in the Israeli population: A...

Pneumococcal vaccination is a crucial preventive measure for older adults, yet delays and disparities in vaccine uptake persist. This study aimed to evaluate temporal trends and disparities in pneumococcal vaccination rates among older adults based on demographic, socioeconomic, geographic, and clinical factors.

We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study on adults aged 65 years, eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine between 2015 and 2023. The association between demographic, geographic, and health-related factors and vaccination delays, as well as temporal trends in vaccination rates, were examined. The primary outcome was the time to pneumococcal vaccination within one year of eligibility.

Among 137,997 eligible individuals, only 34 % (47,580) were vaccinated within one year of eligibility. Vaccination rates declined over the study period, from 39 % in 2015 to 23 % in 2023 (annual rates: 39 %, 38 %, 35 %, 36 %, 40 %, 32 %, 27 %, 23 %). Time to vaccination increased after 2020, particularly following the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Shorter vaccination times were observed in males, Arabs, and residents of peripheral regions. Prior influenza vaccination strongly predicted timely pneumococcal vaccination (hazard ratio [HR] =2.1, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.9-2.3). Comorbidities such as hypertension and recent hospitalizations were also associated with shorter times to vaccination. In contrast, smokers and underweight individuals experienced longer times to vaccination (HR = 0.93, 95 %CI 0.90-0.95; HR = 0.81, 95 %CI 0.73-0.90, respectively).

Delays in pneumococcal vaccination uptake among older adults are influenced by demographic, geographic, and health-related factors. The significant decline in vaccination rates over the years, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the need for public health strategies. Targeted interventions to improve vaccine accessibility, raise awareness, and address healthcare inequities are essential to mitigate these disparities, achieve and exceed pre-pandemic vaccination levels, and ensure the healthcare system is prepared for future crises.