Influenza Vaccine Rates Were High Among Patients With HIV During the 2020-2021 Season

Influenza vaccination rates were high among people living with HIV (PLWH) during the 2020-2021 season, according to new data.

To conduct their analysis, the researchers collected patients’ sociodemographic and HIV-specific data via electronic medical records and confirmed patient reports of external vaccination. All patients were receiving care at a single HIV site in Wilmington, Delaware.

A total of 780 PLWH aged 18 years or older were included in the analysis. Of whom, 667 (86%) had received the influenza vaccine during the 2020-2021 season. Patients who were older, had a lower viral load, and had virologic suppression were significantly more likely to receive the vaccine.

“A very high rate of PLWH received vaccine, far exceeding local and national benchmarks, with [electronic medical record] data unlikely to have fully captured all vaccines,” the researchers concluded. “The role of the COVID-19 pandemic in vaccine amongst PLWH is not yet known. While older age was associated with vaccine in adjusted analysis, the number of unvaccinated patients was small, confidence intervals wide, and associations consequently weak. Larger studies are needed to further investigate factors associated with vaccine receipt amongst PLWH.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Kahal DA, Wharton B, James C, Caplan R, Arlene BK. People living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic: who did (or did not) receive annual influenza vaccination? Paper presented at: IDWeek 2021; September 29-October 3, 2021. https://www.eventscribe.net/2021/IDWeek/fsPopup.asp?efp=RFpCTVlJWUkxNDI1Nw%20&PosterID=413410%20&rnd=0.7090379&mode=posterinfo