Rheumatologists fail to advise people with RA to get immunised, which matters if you are under 65: An audit in a New Zealand rheumatology service.

AIM: To assess if yearly-influenza and five-yearly pneumococcal vaccines are recommended to people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a New Zealand rheumatology service in accordance with guidelines and determine patient immunisation status for these respiratory pathogens.

METHODS

Retrospective review of electronic health records of all outpatients with RA attending a regional rheumatology centre in New Zealand over a one-month period immediately after the release of the 2015 influenza vaccination.

RESULTS

The 232 people with RA in the sample had a mean age of 60.4 years with 59% having RA for more than five years. Documented advice was infrequent (<5%) at the index visit and other clinically relevant time points. Despite this, many patients were immunised. People with RA over 65 years of age were more likely to receive influenza vaccination, however, the vaccination rate was similar to the general population over 65 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

People with RA receive recommended respiratory vaccinations despite infrequent advice for immunisation from rheumatology specialist services. However, immunisation rate in people with RA, particularly those under 65 years, remains suboptimal and multi-level interventions are required to improve this.