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The flu is a constant threat that can sometimes cause severe forms of disease. The highest incidence rates by age group occur in children under 15 years of age, especially in those under 5 years, in whom the rate of hospitalization is also similar to the population aged 65 years and older. In addition, children are the main transmitters of the infection. In Spain, 5 influenza vaccines are authorized for the paediatric age group: three inactivated tetravalent vaccines harvested from fertilised eggs, one tetravalent inactivated vaccine obtained from cell cultures and one attenuated tetravalent vaccine for intranasal administration, which will become trivalent in the 2024-2025 season by excluding the B Yamagata lineage as recommended by the WHO. The CAV-AEP recommends systematic vaccination in children aged 6-59 months, children and adolescents belonging to risk groups, people who can transmit the flu to groups at risk of complicated flu, and household contacts or close family of infants under 6 months. From 2 years of age, the intranasal attenuated vaccine is preferred due to its greater acceptability and thus contribution to greater vaccination coverage. The CAV-AEP also considers that vaccination against influenza of healthy children and adolescents aged 5-18 years is advisable, as it provides individual protection and promotes protection at the family and community levels. It is especially important to vaccinate all health care professionals against influenza as well as pregnant women at any time during pregnancy., (Copyright © 2024 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Background: In the United States, millions of people contract the flu each year. Immunization has been shown to provide the best protection against the flu. Increasing flu vaccination rates can reduce the number of patients who get the flu and seek care for non-specific symptoms thus making detection of the coronavirus more efficient., Method: A quality improvement project was implemented to increase the number of influenza vaccines received by employees at an onsite employer-based health clinic. Anonymous pre- and post-surveys were used to assess the flu knowledge of employees. Employees from a large financial group, who voluntarily participated, received an educational handout at the onsite health fair or at a lunch and learn. Full-time employees who carried their employer's health insurance were eligible to participate, whereas, dependents and contract employees were excluded., Findings: The number of employees who received the vaccination increased during the fall of 2019 ( n = 406) when compared with the previous year ( n = 337). Nineteen percent ( n = 170) of employees completed surveys. There were statistically significantly more post- than pre-survey responses reflecting the participants' perceived knowledge of influenza and the flu vaccine. The majority of participants in both the pre- and post-surveys reported that they learned "a lot" about both influenza and the flu vaccine., Conclusion: Providing education and access to the vaccine in the workplace may improve flu knowledge, reduce barriers, and increase flu vaccine uptake among employees.

Rationale: Many countries were and are still struggling with the COVID-19 emergency. Despite efforts to limit the viral transmission, the vaccine is the only solution to ending the pandemic. However, vaccine hesitancy could reduce coverage and hinder herd immunity., Objective: People's intention to get vaccinated can be shaped by several factors, including risk perception which, in turn, is influenced by affect. The present work aimed at investigating how risk perception and some factors associated with the decision to comply with vaccination modulated vaccine acceptance for COVID-19 as compared to seasonal influenza, and how these have varied during the lockdown phases., Method: The study followed the main phases of the emergency in Italy, investigating the intention to get vaccinated against flu and against SARS-CoV-2 (if a vaccine was available) before, during and after the first national lockdown, covering the period from the end of February to the end of June 2020. We investigated the effect of risk perception and other predictors on the decision of getting vaccinated., Results: Compared to the pre-lockdown phase, during the lockdown more people were willing to get vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of their beliefs about vaccines, and as risk perception increased, so did the intention to accept the vaccine. The acceptance of the flu vaccine increased after the re-opening phase. In addition, the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and against flu increased if there was previous flu vaccination behavior but decreased with increasing doubts about the vaccines in general., Conclusions: The observation of vaccination intentions across the three main phases of the emergency allows important considerations regarding psychological, affect, and demographic determinants useful to tailor public health communication to improve public response to future epidemics., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and identified as a priority target group for COVID-19 vaccines. We aimed to determine COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate in HCWs in France., Methods: We conducted an anonymous survey from 26 th March to 2 nd July 2020. The primary endpoint was the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if a vaccine was available., Results: Two-thousand and forty-seven HCWs answered the survey; women accounted for 74% of respondents. Among respondents, 1.554 (76.9%, 95% confidence interval 75.1-78.9) would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. Older age, male gender, fear about COVID-19, individual perceived risk and flu vaccination during previous season were associated with hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Nurses and assistant nurses were less prone to accept vaccination against COVID-19 than physicians. Vaccine hesitancy was associated with a decrease in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Flu vaccine rate was 57.3% during the previous season, and 54.6% of the respondents had the intention to get a flu vaccine during the next season., Conclusions: Intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 reached 75% in HCWs with discrepancies between occupational categories. COVID-19 pandemic had no positive effect on flu vaccine acceptance rate., (Copyright © 2020 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Seasonal influenza continues to impose a substantial healthcare and economic burden in the United States each year. This study assessed influenza vaccination rates among the uninsured population, determined the need for free flu vaccines, and analyzed associations of vaccination status with access, beliefs, and sociodemographic factors. Stony Brook Outreach and Medical Education (SB HOME) free clinic offers free flu vaccinations to uninsured patients over the age of 18 living in Suffolk County, New York. All patients visiting SB HOME between October 2018 and February 2019 were offered a 10-min anonymous survey assessing demographic characteristics, self-evaluation of health status, vaccination status during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 flu seasons, willingness to obtain a free flu vaccine, and beliefs and barriers surrounding flu vaccines. Analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, paired t tests, and χ 2 tests using a significance threshold of p < 0.05. A total of 102 participants were surveyed, 80% of whom identified as Hispanic/Latino. The majority of participants expressed positive attitudes towards the influenza vaccine. Despite these positive attitudes, 72% reported not receiving the influenza vaccination during the 2017-2018 flu season, the commonly cited reasons being fear of getting sick from the flu vaccine, high cost, and not knowing where to get the vaccine. During the 2018-2019 flu season 60% of participants elected to receive a free flu shot at SB HOME, and participants with positive attitudes towards flu vaccines were more likely to accept the vaccine when offered at no cost. Fear of getting sick from the flu vaccine remained the most common reason for participants declining a free flu vaccine. Only 17% of participants would seek vaccination at the market price of $30, compared to the 76% who would if the vaccine was offered for free. Our study highlights the need for convenient and affordable access to the flu vaccine among uninsured populations, who despite recognizing the benefits of receiving the flu vaccine are unable to overcome certain barriers. Elucidating and targeting barriers specific to uninsured populations at the local community level may improve public health strategies centered on increasing vaccination rates.

Introduction: Influenza infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer, and annual influenza vaccination for individuals with cancer is recommended. We sought to examine the documentation rate of influenza vaccine administration, refusal, or counseling in the first year after diagnosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) for patients across 3 hospitals in 2 health care systems., Patients and Methods: Documentation of vaccine administration, refusal, or counseling by physicians, advanced practice providers, or nursing staff during the first period of influenza vaccine availability after diagnosis (August to April) was assessed in medical records of patients diagnosed with DLBCL between February 2015 and October 2017 who presented to Emory St. Joseph Hospital (community hospital), Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University (academic medical center), or Grady Memorial Hospital (county hospital)., Results: Of the 57% (61/107) of newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL who had vaccine-related documentation, 43% refused vaccination. Counseling was not documented for any patient. Inpatient nursing performed 75% of all documentation. Primary oncologists documented vaccination in 4% of all cases., Conclusion: Despite the limited immunization documentation and high refusal rates observed in this study, the influenza vaccine refusal rate was lower than the average for the United States, the state of Georgia, and the previous studies of patients with cancer. Although routine outpatient vaccination occurs, improvements in screening, strategies for sharing patient vaccine-related information, and counseling of patients who refuse the vaccine are needed. Further work is also needed to determine the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in patients receiving anti-cancer therapy., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Globally, among infectious diseases, influenza is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Individuals with chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are particularly vulnerable to complications of an influenza infection. The European Society of Cardiology recommended annual influenza vaccinations for patients with cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies have suggested a link between influenza and increased risk of cardiovascular events. Despite its proven benefits, little is known about the reason for the underutilization of influenza vaccination. We present the findings of an assessment of patients' perception of the influenza vaccine and the reason for its underutilization, by data mining from Twitter.

This article examines flu vaccination beliefs and practices produced during a survey of undergraduate students in Spring 2012 (IRB#10-732). This research uses the methods of rhetorical analysis - or the study of persuasive features and arguments used in language - to examine statements respondents made regarding flu and flu vaccine. In these responses, students generated unique categories of arguments about the perceived dangers of flu vaccination, including the assertion that vaccines cause disease (including illnesses and conditions other than flu), that vaccines are toxic medicines, and that vaccines carry unknown, population-wide risks that are inadequately acknowledged. This study provides insight into vaccination beliefs and rationales among a population at risk of flu (college students) and suggests that further study of this population may yield important keys to addressing flu vaccine concerns as expressed by college students. Rhetorical analysis also offers a useful set of methods to understanding vaccination beliefs and practices, adding to existing methods of study and analysis of vaccination practices and beliefs in medicine and public health.

AbstractBackground: College students have cited inconvenience, ease of forgetting, and lack of time as barriers to influenza (flu) vaccine receipt. We hypothesized that “pop-up” clinics and live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) would facilitate delivery and align with preferences of college students. Methods: During the 2023–2024 flu season, undergraduate participants were recruited to receive LAIV at 5 “pop-up” clinics across a large midwestern campus. Individuals who received LAIV were approached to complete a Likert-scale survey asking about their experience. Results: Across all clinics, 337 individuals received LAIV and 129 completed the survey. Respondents reported that “pop-up” clinics decreased barriers to vaccination. Regarding LAIV acceptance, 44.2% noted a preference for LAIV while 46.5% noted no preference between intranasal and injectable vaccines. Importantly, over 27% of students stated they would not have received vaccine without this “pop-up” clinic option. Conclusion(s): “Pop-up” clinics and LAIV effectively alleviate barriers to facilitate flu vaccination for college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of an effective combined vaccine represents a crucial strategy for preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases and reducing the burden on healthcare resources. Developing a combined vaccine against both influenza and the coronavirus is a promising approach, but it is still in the early stages of development. This paper reports on a novel combined pentavalent candidate vaccine that has shown promising results in mice, with statistically significant differences in mean antibody titer against the coronavirus and the influenza antigens compared to placebo. We have shown that the coronavirus antigen is capable of inducing an immune response autonomously, regardless of the presence of the influenza antigens in a combined vaccine. On the other hand, the presence of the coronavirus antigen in a combined vaccine showed to enhance the immune response against some of the studied influenza antigens, suggesting that these antigens may act in synergy and elicit an enhanced immune response. The absence of dose-dependent difference in mean antibody titer within the same antigenic groups of vaccine preparations suggested that even small amounts of the coronavirus and the influenza antigens could induce an immune response just as good as high-dose vaccine preparations, which certainly has important safety and cost implications. The vaccine is soon to be ready for clinical trials and mass production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Influenza vaccination has been a concern for patients, healthcare professionals and decision-makers alike. This concern, in Romania, has materialized at the beginning of the cold season 2023-2024 by changing the legislative rules so that the purchase of the vaccine by patients is made on the basis of a compensated medical prescription, and not by its distribution through family medicine offices. Materials and method. On 29.09.2023, a survey based on 10 questions was carried out, to which 48 family doctors from Mures County responded. The survey was conducted before the legislative changes took effect, so the opinion expressed in the questionnaire has prospective value. Results. The 10 questions revealed respondents’ opinions on the optimal time to start a flu vaccination campaign, who should be the target group for such campaigns, the adverse reactions to immunization, attitudes of healthcare staff towards this type of vaccination and towards the advantages and vulnerabilities of the new legislation, and how the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign might have influenced other vaccination campaigns. Conclusions. Respondents’ views on influenza vaccination were in line with literature data on the approach to immunizations in the cold season and the risks and benefits of such campaigns. Regarding the effects of the change in the regulations governing the flu vaccination campaign in Romania, a survey should also be conducted at the end of the 2023-2024 cold season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza attack rates among college students are high. However, little is known about the determinants of students' flu vaccine adoption from their own perspectives. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate barriers and facilitators to college students' flu vaccine adoption. A total of 545 students offered complete answers to an online survey. Thematic analysis was used for analyzing open-ended questions. Students' flu vaccine adoption was hindered by their fear associated with the flu vaccine, lack of pertinent knowledge, perceived lack of necessity, negative social influence, and time constraints and convenience concerns. Students were motivated to adopt the flu vaccine for their interest in self-care, positive experience with the flu vaccine adoption, good flu vaccine habits, and recommendations from trusted sources. Understanding determinants of students' flu vaccine adoption provides the first step in developing tailored health interventions that may increase students' flu vaccine adoption rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to study the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of trivalent split influenza vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), systemic scleroderma (SSD). Material and methods. Ninety three patients were enrolled in the study, including 52 patients with RA, 34 with AS, 7 with SSD, and also 40 persons without rheumatic diseases (RD) (control group). At the time of enrolment, all patients received RD drug therapy. The duration of RD was from 2 months up to 46 years. Vaxigrip vaccine, which included the actual strains of influenza virus for the 2016-2017 or 2017-2018 seasons was administered subcutaneously in the amount of 1 dose (0.5 ml) against the backdrop of continuing RD therapy. The main stages of control were visits at 1-, 3- and 6-month intervals after vaccination. Standard clinical and laboratory tests, a clinical examination of the patient and assessment of disease activity were performed during the visits. Immunogenicity of the vaccine was evaluated at each stage of the control procedure using the commercial ELISA kits manufactured by PPDP LLC (St. Petersburg). Results. No cases of influenza or influenza-like illness were recorded during the entire period of observation. 81% of patients had no post-vaccination reactions in the RD group. Pain, swelling and hyperaemia of the skin with a diameter of up to 2 cm at the injection site were reported in 14% of cases and subfebrility, myalgia, malaise, headache in 5% of cases. The frequency of postvaccinal reactions among patients was not significantly different from that in the control group. There were no cases of exacerbation of RD or the occurrence of any new autoimmune disorders. The parameters of the humoral immune response in patients with RD did not significantly differ from those in the control group. Conclusion. The obtained data testify about good clinical efficacy and tolerability of trivalent split influenza vaccine in patients with RD.

Background: While the flu vaccine is a consumer health technology, little is known about whether vaccine adoption can be explained through the lens of technology acceptance frameworks such as the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Based on the social cognitive theory and UTAUT, we aimed to examine the relationship between motivation, behavioral expectation, and behavior in the flu vaccine adoption context. Method: An online survey was completed by 306 college students. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the associations among motivation, behavioral expectation, and vaccine adoption. Results: Among the 306 participants, nearly one-third of them adopted the flu vaccine annually. The results of SEM showed a good model fit and revealed that motivation was positively associated with behavioral expectation, which in turn was positively correlated to flu vaccine adoption. Motivation was not significantly associated with flu vaccine adoption. Behavioral expectation completely mediated the relationship between motivation and flu vaccine adoption. Conclusion: Findings show that the relationship between motivation and vaccine adoption is completely mediated by behavioral expectation. To increase vaccine adoption rates in young adults, interventions focusing on boosting motivation and cultivating positive behavioral expectations are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccination is an effective public health measure to prevent and control a number of infectious diseases. However, since vaccines are biological products and are sensitive to both heat and cold, they need to be maintained within a narrow range of temperatures, often referred to as the 'cold-chain'. This range, which is between +2°C and +8°C with a target +5°C, does not allow for refreezing or storage at room temperature. This paper discusses the importance of the cold chain, what should be done both to maintain it, and the actions to be taken, should a break be noted. It is important to note the product information supplied with vaccines, which is taken from the summary of product characteristics that forms part of the licensing requirements for each vaccine, and which will state how it should be stored. Using a vaccine that has not been stored according to these instructions constitutes off-label use, for which the individual practitioner must take responsibility. It also emphasises the fragile nature of many public health interventions, maintenance of which require constant vigilance and close cooperation between many groups and individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Intradermal vaccine delivery has been shown to induce good immune responses with low vaccine doses. Technologies for drug-delivery which specifically target the skin may render intradermal vaccination more accessible. Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized trial in 180 intended-to-treat healthy adults. Study objectives were to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of low-dose intradermal (ID) influenza vaccines delivered using a novel microneedle device (MicronJet). This device replaces a conventional needle, and is designed specifically for intradermal delivery. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either the full-dose standard flu shot (containing 15μg hemagglutinin per strain) delivered intramuscularly using a conventional needle (IM group), a medium dose intradermal injection (6μg hemagglutinin per strain) delivered with the MicronJet (ID2 group), or a low-dose intradermal injection (3μg hemagglutinin per strain) delivered with the MicronJet (ID1 group). A marketed influenza vaccine for the 2006/2007 influenza season (α-RIX® by GSK Biologicals) was used for all injections. Adverse events were recorded over a 42-day period. Immunogenicity was evaluated by changes in hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody titer, and by comparing geometric mean titers (GMTs), seroconversion, and seroprotection rates between the study groups. Results: Local reactions were significantly more frequent following intradermal vaccination, but were mild and transient in nature. At 21 days after injection, GMT fold increase was 22, 18 and 22 in the ID1, ID2 and IM groups respectively for the H1N1 strain; 9, 9 and 16 for the H3N2 strain and 9, 13 and 11 for strain B. The CPMP criteria for re-licensure of seasonal influenza vaccines were met in full for all study groups. Conclusions: Low-dose influenza vaccines delivered intradermally using microneedles elicited immunogenic responses similar to those elicited by the full-dose intramuscular vaccination. The microneedle injection device used in this study was found to be effective, safe, and reliable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]