Influenza vaccine hesitancy and its influencing factors among community-dwelling older adults in Shihezi City, Xinjiang, Western China.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the prevalence of influenza vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in Shihezi, Xinjiang, thereby informing evidence-based strategies to enhance influenza vaccine uptake in older adults.

METHODS

A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was adopted to conduct a questionnaire survey among 1,540 community-dwelling older adults in Shihezi City, Xinjiang, in July 2023. Chi-square tests, univariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to examine the factors associated with influenza vaccine hesitancy among older adults.

RESULTS

Among the 1,474 older adults who completed the survey with valid responses, the prevalence of influenza vaccine hesitancy was 54.5% (804/1474). Univariate analysis showed that age, marital status, chronic diseases, self-rated health, knowledge of influenza and influenza vaccines, perceptions of vaccine efficacy and safety, recommendations from healthcare providers, prior vaccination history, and certain subscale scores of the 5C scale were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that complacency was an independent risk factor for vaccine hesitancy (OR = 3.204, 95% CI: 2.439-4.208, p < 0.001), while confidence, recognition of vaccine efficacy and safety, and moderate to high levels of knowledge about influenza and vaccines were protective factors (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Influenza vaccine hesitancy among community-dwelling older adults in Shihezi, Xinjiang, is affected by multiple factors. To reduce hesitancy and increase vaccination coverage, targeted education on influenza and vaccines should be implemented to improve disease risk awareness and vaccine confidence, along with enhanced vaccination recommendations from healthcare providers.