Pneumococcal and influenza vaccine awareness in individuals over 65 years

Year 2023, , 398 - 404, 27.10.2023

Nurhan Sayaca

https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1344692

Abstract

Aims: Vaccination is of great importance due to the increased risk of infection as a result of changes in the immune system with aging and the weak immune response against these infections. In this study, it was aimed to determine the pneumococcal and influenza vaccination awareness and vaccination rates of individuals aged 65 years and over, to direct the unvaccinated individuals to be vaccinated and to protect them from possible infections and complications.
Methods: A questionnaire form was filled in by asking demographic information, awareness of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines and the status of vaccination of individuals aged 65 years and over who applied to the clinic between June and September 2020. Unvaccinated individuals were referred to the vaccination unit.
Results: A total of 553 elderly individuals aged 65 years and over, 338 women and 215 men, were included in the study. Among the study participants, the rate of patients with awareness of influenza/pneumococcal vaccine was 48.5%. Although the vaccination awareness rate was higher in males, non-smokers, those with higher education level, those with at least one of the comorbidities such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, chronic renal failure, vaccination rates were lower in patients with these comorbidities and additionally diabetes mellitus. The majority of individuals with awareness were informed by healthcare workers. The rate of vaccination among the individuals participating in the study was 18.4%. Vaccination was higher in individuals with awareness. While 5.3% of those who were not vaccinated were hospitalized for pneumonia, those who were vaccinated did not have pneumonia severe enough to require hospitalization.
Conclusion: In order to fight with the increasing vaccine hesitancy in our society, healthcare workers should be educated, the media should be supported, and vaccination should be encouraged in every clinic application.

Keywords

Aging, pneumococcus, influenza, vaccine awareness

References

• WHO. Ageing and health. 2021. No Title. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health [cited 2023 Aug 14].
• TÜİK Kurumsal [Internet]. Available from: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Istatistiklerle-Yaslilar-2020-37227 [cited 2023 Aug 14].
• Rudvan Al L, Sönmezer M, Unal S. Erişkin aşılamasında neredeyiz? Türkiye’de üçüncü basamak bir üniversite hastanesi’nde erişkin aşı ünitesi’ne başvuran 65 yaş ve üzeri erişkinlerin aşılanma durumlarının değerlendirilmesi. Ankara Medical Journal. 2021;21(3):350-363.
• Pera A, Campos C, López N. et. al. Immunosenescence: Implications for response to infection and vaccination in older people. Maturitas. 2015;82(1):50-55.
• Fuentes E, Fuentes M, Alarcón M. Palomo I. Immune system dysfunction in the elderly. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2017;89(1):285-299.
• Feehan J, Tripodi N, Apostolopoulos V. The twilight of the immune system: The impact of immunosenescence in aging. Maturitas. 2021;147(February):7-13
• Türk Klinik Mikrobiyoloji ve İnfeksiyon Hastalıkları Derneği. Erişkin aşılanmasında güncel öneriler [Internet]. 2018. Available from: https://www.klimik.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Erişkin-Aşılanmasında-Güncel-Öneriler-Necla-TÜLEK.pdf [cited 2023 Aug 14].
• WHO. Global health estimates. [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.who.int/data/ global-healthestimates. [cited 2023 Aug 14].
• Sütlü S. Vaccination applications in adults over 65 years old. Curr Perspect Heal Sci. 2022;3(1):39-44.
• Derelİ F, Uyanık G, Yıldırım JG, Kundakçı G, Yılmaz M. 65 Yaş ve üzeri bireylerin bağışıklama durumlarının belirlenmesi: Aile sağlığı merkezi örneği Determining the immunization status of individuals aged 65 and over: Sample of Family Health Center. İKÇÜSBFD. 2022;7(2):299-305.
• Mutlu HH, Coşkun FO, Sargın M. The incidence and awareness of vaccination among people aged 65 and over applied to a family medicine outpatient clinic. Ankara Med J. 2018;18(1):1-13.
• Balcı U. G, Şimşek Y, Soysal N, Öngel K. Level of knowledge and attitude of the patients older than 65 Years about pneumococcal vaccine. J Health Sci. 2015;3(3):113-116.
• Akman M, Sarısoy M, Uzuner A. et. al. Altmış beş yaş üstü erişkinlerde aşılanma durumu ve bilgi düzeyleri The vaccination status and knowledge level of vaccines among adults over the age of sixty- five. J Turkish Fam Physician. 2014;5(3):19-23.
• Brown SJ, Asai Y, Cordell HJ, et al. Loss-of-function variants in the filaggrin gene are a significant risk factor for peanut allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(3):661-667.
• Medetalibeyoğlu A, Ezirmik E. A study on determining the level of knowledge about influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, and tetanus vaccines among the vaccines recommended by the world health organization and the level of vaccination in individuals sixty-five years old and over. Haseki Tip Bul. 2020;58(5):414-421.
• Erdoğdu Hİ, Çatak B. Influenza, pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccınatıon rates amongst people aged 65 years and older and related factors. Turkish J Geriatr. 2018;21(4):498-506.
• Doherty M, Schmidt-Ott R, Santos JI et. al. Vaccination of special populations: Protecting the vulnerable. Vaccine. 2016;34(52):6681-6690.
• Erbay A, Kader Ç, Ede H. et. al. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination uptake in adults aged ≥65 years and high risk groups admitted to Yozgat Bozok University Research and Application Hospital. Klimik Derg. 2018;31(3):205-209.
• Martín Martínez MA, Alférez ASS. R.C, Santamera AS. Improvement of the anti-flu vaccine coverage in people older than 65 years, but whom do we vaccinate?. Med Clin (Barc). 2010;134(15):704-709.
• Sallam M, Dababseh D, Yaseen A, et al. COVID-19 misinformation: Mere harmless delusions or much more? A knowledge and attitude cross-sectional study among the general public residing in Jordan. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0243264.
• Sallam M, Dababseh D, Eid H, et al. High rates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its association with conspiracy beliefs: a study in jordan and kuwait among other arab countries. Vaccines (Basel). 2021;9(1):42.