Willingness to Co-receive COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines among Outpatients

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to examine future willingness to co-receive COVID-19 and influenza vaccines and factors associated with that willingness among outpatients with acute respiratory illness (ARI). Methods: Outpatients ≥15 years with respiratory symptoms for ≤10 days were surveyed about vaccination behaviors and intentions. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess associations between demographic, behavioral and health-related variables and willingness to co-receive future COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. Results: Among 856 patients, 41% had received ≥1 COVID-19 vaccines plus booster and 42% had received seasonal influenza vaccine; 47% reported willingness to co-receive COVID-19 and influenza vaccines with 25% unsure and 28% unwilling. Higher educational attainment (OR=1.80, p=.009), receipt of ≥1 COVID-19 vaccines (OR=4.29, p<.001), greater 5-year influenza vaccine uptake (annually OR=8.54, p<.001; sometimes OR=5.38, p<.001) and lower likelihood of testing COVID-19 positive (OR=0.68, p=.033) were significantly associated with willingness to co-receive compared to those decidedly opposed. Conclusions: Prior vaccination behavior predicted willingness to co-receive future COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. Efforts to encourage co-receipt are more likely to succeed among routine vaccine recipients. Vaccination promotion efforts for those hesitant or unwilling to co-receive these vaccines may need to focus on improving uptake of each vaccine individually.