The impact of free vaccination policies under the Korean Influenza National Immunization Program: Trends in influenza vaccination rates in South Korea from 2010 to 2019.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Annual vaccination for influenza is recommended for high-risk populations for its high morbidity and mortality. South Korea provides free influenza vaccination to some target groups under the National Immunization Program (NIP), and discrepantly high vaccination rates are observed in such populations. In this study, we analyzed the trends in influenza vaccination rates and evaluated the impact of the recent expansion of financial coverage to children ≤12 years and pregnant women.Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study with nationwide survey data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). From 2010 to 2019, we evaluated the trends in influenza vaccination rates of the following four target groups: children ≤12 years, adults ≥65 years, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases.Results
In total, 80,861 individuals were analyzed. From 2017 to 2019, the vaccination coverage of children ≤12 years increased from 66.2% to 83.1%; pregnant women from 44.1% to 68.5% (comparing the mean of 2010-2017 and 2018-2019, P <0.001 for both). The elderly ≥65 years showed the highest rates (85.8% in 2019), while people with chronic diseases marked the lowest (41.9% in 2019). People with liver diseases showed the lowest vaccination rate of 27.8%, while that of other common diseases ranged between 31.7-44.1%.Conclusion
The discrepancy between target groups corresponds to their financial coverage under NIP. The recent expansion of financial aids to children ≤12 years and pregnant women was followed by significant increases in vaccination rates in both groups. We suggest that free vaccination policy is one of the most effective strategies to enhance vaccination coverage, and we call for its expansion to other under-vaccinated target groups, especially people with chronic diseases.
SUBMITTER: Seo J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8775253 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:IntroductionInfluenza morbidity and mortality are significant in the countries of South America, yet influenza vaccination is as low as 56.7% among pregnant women, reaching 76.7% of adults with chronic diseases. This article measures the relative values for the vaccination hesitancy indicators of confidence, complacency and convenience by risk-groups in urban areas of five countries of South America with contrasting vaccination rates, analyzing their association with sociodemographic variables and self-reported immunization status.MethodsAn exit survey was applied to 640 individuals per country in Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, distributed equally across risk groups of older adults, adults with risk factors, children ?6 and pregnant women. Indicators were constructed for vaccine confidence, complacency and convenience. Analysis of variance and multiple logistic analysis was undertaken.ResultsAdults with risk factors are somewhat more confident of the influenza vaccine yet also more complacent. Convenience is higher for mothers of minors. Children and older adults report higher levels of vaccination. The 3Cs are more different across countries than across risk groups, with values for Chile higher for confidence and those for Uruguay the lowest. Complacency is lower in Brazil and higher in Uruguay. Results suggest that confidence and complacency affect vaccination rates across risk groups and countries.ConclusionsInfluenza vaccine confidence, complacency and convenience have to be bolstered to improve effective coverage across all risk groups in the urban areas of the countries studied. The role played by country contextual and national vaccination programs has to be further researched in relation to effective coverage of influenza vaccine.
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