Kai Sing Sun1, Tai Pong Lam1, Kit Wing Kwok1, Kwok Fai Lam2,3, Dan Wu1,4, Pak Leung Ho5. 1. Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong. 2. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong. 3. Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School , Singapore. 4. Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London, UK. 5. Department of Microbiology and Carol Yu Center for Infection, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low influenza vaccination rates were observed in Asian countries including China. This study investigated the updated seasonal influenza vaccination rates among Chinese in Hong Kong, and the barriers and enablers to vaccination. METHODS: Eight focus groups were conducted among the Chinese general public, followed by a telephone survey between March and April 2018 with 2,452 respondents (response rate 41.4%). RESULTS: Of the survey respondents, 29.1% had received influenza vaccine in the past 12 months. A majority of them agreed with 'enhancing immunity' (94.4%) and 'feeling safer' (92.3%) as their reasons for vaccination, followed by the belief on 'quicker recovery' if they had influenza (69.5%), and free/subsidized vaccine (53.8%). Among respondents who had not received influenza vaccine, 71.2% 'believed in the strength of their own immunity' and 65.6% perceived 'low-risk of getting influenza'. Less than half were 'worried about side-effects' and 'effectiveness'. The groups aged 65-74 and 75 or above had vaccination rates of 49.1% and 69.9%, respectively, in contrast to 13.9% for the group aged 18-64. A rate of 37.9% for children was reported by the 442 respondents having children. CONCLUSIONS: The high uptake of vaccines among the children and elderly suggests the positive impact of the subsidy and outreach programs. However, young and middle-aged adults tend to believe in the strength of their own immunity and underestimate the infection risk. Public education should emphasize that inactivated vaccines such as influenza vaccines work by means of the viral antigens stimulating the host's immune system toward the major types of seasonal influenza.
BACKGROUND: Low influenza vaccination rates were observed in Asian countries including China. This study investigated the updated seasonal influenza vaccination rates among Chinese in Hong Kong, and the barriers and enablers to vaccination. METHODS: Eight focus groups were conducted among the Chinese general public, followed by a telephone survey between March and April 2018 with 2,452 respondents (response rate 41.4%). RESULTS: Of the survey respondents, 29.1% had received influenza vaccine in the past 12 months. A majority of them agreed with 'enhancing immunity' (94.4%) and 'feeling safer' (92.3%) as their reasons for vaccination, followed by the belief on 'quicker recovery' if they had influenza (69.5%), and free/subsidized vaccine (53.8%). Among respondents who had not received influenza vaccine, 71.2% 'believed in the strength of their own immunity' and 65.6% perceived 'low-risk of getting influenza'. Less than half were 'worried about side-effects' and 'effectiveness'. The groups aged 65-74 and 75 or above had vaccination rates of 49.1% and 69.9%, respectively, in contrast to 13.9% for the group aged 18-64. A rate of 37.9% for children was reported by the 442 respondents having children. CONCLUSIONS: The high uptake of vaccines among the children and elderly suggests the positive impact of the subsidy and outreach programs. However, young and middle-aged adults tend to believe in the strength of their own immunity and underestimate the infection risk. Public education should emphasize that inactivated vaccines such as influenza vaccines work by means of the viral antigens stimulating the host's immune system toward the major types of seasonal influenza.
Authors: Julia W Haas; Friederike L Bender; Sarah Ballou; John M Kelley; Marcel Wilhelm; Franklin G Miller; Winfried Rief; Ted J Kaptchuk Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-01-04
Authors: King Pui Florence Chan; Ting Fung Ma; Wang Chun Kwok; Jackson Ka Chun Leung; Ka Yan Chiang; James Chung Man Ho; David Chi Leung Lam; Terence Chi Chun Tam; Mary Sau Man Ip; Pak Leung Ho Journal: Respir Med Date: 2020-07-12 Impact factor: 4.582