Influenza vaccine hesitancy in the elderly: Where do we stand?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Seasonal influenza poses significant health risks, particularly for elderly populations.
• Vaccine hesitancy among older adults remains a critical public health concern.
• Effective influenza vaccination strategies require understanding hesitancy factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze existing literature on influenza vaccine hesitancy in the elderly.
• To identify and categorize the primary factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy in older adults.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for improving influenza vaccination uptake in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review methodology was employed.
• Literature searches were conducted across PubMed, SciELO, and DOAJ databases.
• Studies published within the last ten years focusing on influenza vaccine hesitancy in older adults were included.

Main Results:

• Forty-three relevant papers were selected for analysis.
• Sociodemographic variables and components of the 5C Model (confidence, complacency, constraints, risk calculation, collective responsibility) were identified as key factors.
• These factors collectively explain a significant portion of influenza vaccine hesitancy in the elderly.

Conclusions:

• The study contributes valuable insights into influenza vaccine hesitancy among older adults.
• Identified factors can inform the development of targeted interventions and practical recommendations.
• The narrative approach and single-author design present limitations in analysis depth and generalizability.