The relationship between influenza vaccination habits and location of vaccination

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 9;9(12):e114863. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114863. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Objectives: Although use of non-medical settings for vaccination such as retail pharmacies has grown in recent years, little is known about how various settings are used by individuals with different vaccination habits. We aimed to assess the relationship between repeated, annual influenza vaccination and location of vaccination.

Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 4,040 adults in 2010.

Methods: We fielded a nationally representative survey using an online research panel operated by Knowledge Networks. The completion rate among sampled panelists was 73%.

Results: 39% of adults reported that they have never received a seasonal influenza vaccination. Compared to those who were usually or always vaccinated from year to year, those who sometimes or rarely received influenza vaccinations were significantly more likely to be vaccinated in a medical setting in 2009-2010.

Conclusions: RESULTS indicate that while medical settings are the dominant location for vaccination overall, they play an especially critical role in serving adults who do not regularly receive vaccinations. By exploring vaccination habits, we can more appropriately choose among interventions designed to encourage the initiation vs. maintenance of desired behaviors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Habits*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / physiology*
  • Influenza Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Influenza, Human / psychology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance
  • Seasons
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vaccination / psychology*
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data*
  • Vaccination / trends
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines

Grants and funding

This study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not represent those of RAND or GlaxoSmithKline.