2023-09-19 08:20:13
– but only one in two people have been vaccinated in the last two years
Vienna (OTS) – A new survey conducted by Viatris reveals the motivations and barriers to flu vaccination among people with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
Confidence in the necessity and effectiveness of vaccines as well as the recommendation of medical professionals are influencing factors in the decision to vaccinate
Vienna, September 19, 2023 – With the flu season approaching, it is important to plan to protect yourself and your loved ones. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), annual influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent seasonal influenza(1). However, vaccination coverage in Europe is still too low compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) target of 75%.(2)
A new online survey from Viatris(3), a global healthcare company, examines motivations and barriers to influenza vaccination among vaccinated and unvaccinated people with NCDs in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Portugal and the Czech Republic.
Overall, 61% of respondents said they were positive regarding the flu shot. For patients with non-communicable diseases who said they had received a flu vaccination in the last two years, the figure was almost 90%. However, of those surveyed who said they had never been vaccinated once morest flu, 42% had neither positive nor negative opinions on the topic.
According to the European Union, up to 50 million people in Europe are infected with seasonal influenza viruses every year(4). Although anyone can become infected, seasonal influenza poses serious health complications specifically for those considered more vulnerable and at risk, such as pregnant women, children under 59 months of age, the elderly, people with noncommunicable diseases and healthcare workers(5). Family members and friends in these risk groups can also transmit the flu, so they should also be vaccinated. Annual vaccinations, from infants to adults and from people without pre-existing conditions to those with pre-existing conditions, can help better protect everyone in a society.
According to vaccinated people with NCDs, the top three reasons for deciding to get vaccinated were the recommendation of family doctors (61%), followed by their own initiative (31%) and the desire to get vaccinated due to their underlying disease to protect once morest flu (18%). Other important factors mentioned by respondents in this group are the protection of relatives, especially in Italy (21%), Poland (20%) and Belgium (20%), and the recommendation of pharmacists, in particular in Italy (10%) and Portugal (11%).
Although awareness of flu-related complications is widespread, people are open to more education regarding the benefits of influenza vaccination.
Awareness of flu-related complications is generally widespread among people with NCDs, but there is more awareness among those who have been vaccinated (60%) than among those who have not been vaccinated (41%). Still, regarding half of both vaccinated and unvaccinated people with NCDs said they would be interested in learning more.
Doctors are the preferred and most frequently used source of information regarding flu vaccines worldwide. Vaccinated people with NCDs primarily seek information regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine: protection once morest infections (46%), duration of protection (39%), risks of not being vaccinated (37%) and possible side effects (37%), while surprisingly more when one in three unvaccinated people with NCDs said they received or sought no information at all.
However, a larger knowledge gap can be observed when it comes to the benefits of the flu vaccination. While 70% of vaccinated patients with NCDs said they knew a lot regarding it, only 39% of unvaccinated patients with NCDs did this, with almost one in five in this population saying they knew nothing at all . However, there is an interest in learning more, as expressed by half of those surveyed worldwide.
The most common benefit of vaccination known to both vaccinated and unvaccinated people with NCDs is that influenza vaccination can reduce the severity of flu symptoms, as reported by 80% of vaccinated people and 77% of unvaccinated people with NCDs in general . Other benefits of influenza vaccination are better known among vaccinated people with NCDs and include a reduction in flu-related hospitalizations (70%), followed by prevention of influenza illness (67%) and protection of vulnerable people around them (60%).
The likelihood of getting a flu vaccine in the future depends largely on the recommendation of healthcare professionals and confidence in the effectiveness of flu vaccines, as half of respondents worldwide said.
Looking forward, almost all vaccinated people with NCDs (92%) said they were likely or very likely to get the flu vaccine. However, among unvaccinated people with noncommunicable diseases, this proportion drops dramatically to 33%. The most common reason for not getting vaccinated is the belief that vaccination is not necessary because the person is not susceptible to influenza (51%), followed by the belief that vaccines are ineffective (37%).
Credentials:
(1) ECDC, Seasonal influenza vaccines
(2) Vaccines Europe, Open letter calling for urgent action to address alarmingly low coverage rates for influenza vaccination
(3) ELMA Research, Anti-flu vaccine in Non-Communicable Diseases patients, conducted among 1106 sufferers from at least one NCD (Chronic asthma, COPD, Type 1 or 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular diseases) and either vaccinated once morest flu within the past 2 years or have never been vaccinated once morest flu in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Portugal, Czech Republic, April 2023
(4) European Union, Vaccination Portal
(5) World Health Organization, Influenza (Seasonal)
About Viatris
Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS) is a global healthcare company that helps people around the world live healthier lives at every stage of life. We create access to medicines through sustainable business management, develop innovative solutions and use our expertise to supply more people with more medicines and accompanying services with our unique Global Healthcare Gateway®. Founded in 2020, Viatris combines world-class scientific, manufacturing and commercial expertise with proven regulatory, medical and commercial capabilities to provide patients with high-quality medicines in more than 165 countries and territories. Viatris’ global portfolio includes more than 1,400 approved medicines across a broad range of therapeutic areas covering both non-communicable and infectious diseases, including globally recognized branded products, complex generics and a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) products. Viatris employs more than 38,000 people worldwide and is headquartered in the USA with global centers in Pittsburgh (USA), Shanghai (China) and Hyderabad (India). Further information can be found at viatris.com and investor.viatris.com. Stay over too TwitterLinkedIn Instagram and YouTube in touch with us.
In Austria, the Viatris Group includes Mylan Österreich GmbH (including former Upjohn products) and Arcana Arzneimittel GmbH. The portfolio in Austria includes more than 500 products, including originals and (branded) generics. Both prescription and over-the-counter preparations cover a wide range of therapeutic areas. Further information can also be found at www.viatris.at
INF-2023-0421-08-2023
Questions & Contact:
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Christoph Hegedüs
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+43 1 86390
christoph.hegedues@viatris.com
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Michael Leitner
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michael.leitner@publichealth.at
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