Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers and the general population in Saudi Arabia: A meta-analysis.

We aim to identify how the seasonal IVRs have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies to statistically examine IVRs before and after the COVID-19 pandemic among the general population and HCWs in Saudi Arabia. The meta-regression analysis showed a significant correlation among the general population was observed between the IVR and the timing of the study, with a mean effect size estimate of 14.3 (95% CI = 5.7-22.9; p < .001). Among HCWs, no significant relationship was observed between the IVR and the timing of the study, with a mean effect size estimate of 6.7 (95% CI = -19.3-32.7; p = .5). COVID-19 might have contributed to a rise in IVR among HCWs, whereas the general population has seen a decline in IVR.