Clinical Scorecard: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Attitudes Toward Influenza Vaccination and Patient Satisfaction Levels
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Seasonal influenza vaccination behavior and patient satisfaction
Key Mechanisms
COVID-19 pandemic influenced vaccination refusal, healthcare engagement, and patient satisfaction; socioeconomic deprivation and healthcare disengagement associated with lower vaccination rates
Target Population
Adult primary care patients in southeastern Minnesota
Care Setting
Primary care health system
Key Highlights
During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccination rates declined, especially among previously intermittently vaccinated and never vaccinated patients.
Patients with greater socioeconomic deprivation, lower education, and healthcare disengagement were more likely to refuse influenza vaccination.
Patients with severe comorbidities were less likely to be always vaccinated and reported higher dissatisfaction with care.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess influenza vaccination status as always vaccinated, intermittently vaccinated, or never vaccinated.
Evaluate patient sociodemographic factors including Area Deprivation Index and education level.
Identify healthcare engagement levels through frequency of medical visits.
Management
Target vaccination interventions to patients with vaccine refusal, focusing on those with socioeconomic deprivation and healthcare disengagement.
Increase provider awareness of factors associated with vaccine refusal to tailor education and outreach.
Promote influenza vaccination especially among high-risk patients with severe comorbidities.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Track influenza vaccination rates longitudinally across pandemic phases.
Monitor patient satisfaction levels to identify dissatisfaction linked to vaccination refusal.
Use patient experience surveys to assess healthcare engagement and confidence.
Risks
Declining influenza vaccination increases risk of influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths.
Vaccine refusal is associated with socioeconomic and healthcare engagement disparities.
Patients with severe comorbidities refusing vaccination may face higher risk of complications.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Adult primary care patients aged 18 years and older in southeastern Minnesota
Patients categorized as always vaccinated, intermittently vaccinated, or never vaccinated showed differing vaccination behaviors during the pandemic, with increased refusal among intermittently and never vaccinated groups.
Clinical Best Practices
Incorporate assessment of socioeconomic factors and healthcare engagement when addressing influenza vaccination.
Use patient satisfaction data to guide interventions aimed at improving vaccine uptake.
Focus vaccination efforts on high-risk populations, including those with severe comorbidities and those living in socioeconomically deprived areas.
Recognize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vaccination attitudes to inform future public health strategies.
