Affiliation:
1. Global Healthy Living Foundation Upper Nyack New York
2. University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia
3. Vasculitis Foundation Kansas City Missouri
4. Accelerated Cure Project Waltham Massachusetts
5. IBD Partners Chapel Hill North Carolina
6. New York University New York New York
7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
8. University of Alabama at Birmingham
Abstract
ObjectiveThe study objective was to prioritize topics for future patient‐centered research to increase uptake of common vaccines, such as for pneumococcal pneumonia, influenza, herpes zoster, human papillomavirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, among adults living with autoimmune conditions.MethodsA steering committee (SC) was formed that included clinicians, patients, patient advocates, and researchers associated with rheumatic diseases (psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis), inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis. Through a scoping review and discussions, SC members identified research topics regarding vaccine uptake and/or hesitancy for prioritization. A larger multistakeholder alliance that included patients and patient advocates, clinicians, researchers, policy makers, regulators, and vaccine manufacturers conducted a modified Delphi exercise online with three rating rounds and one ranking round. Frequency analysis and comparisons across stakeholder groups were conducted. A weighted ranking score was generated for each item in the ranking round for final prioritization.ResultsThrough the Delphi process, 33 research topics were identified, of which 13 topics were rated as critical by more than 70% of all stakeholders (n = 31). The two highest ranked critical topics per the full stakeholder group were “How well a vaccine works for adults with autoimmune conditions” and “How beliefs about vaccine safety affect vaccine uptake.”ConclusionA multistakeholder group identified key topics as critically important priorities for future research to decrease vaccine hesitancy and improve uptake of vaccines for adults with autoimmune conditions.