Coverage and factors associated with Dual COVID-19 and influenza vaccination among health volunteers in Health Region 9

Abstract

Influenza and COVID-19 are vaccine-preventable diseases that often occur during the rainy season. In 2023, the Ministry of Public Health implemented a policy to concurrently administer COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines (Dual Vaccination Campaign). This study aimed to study the coverage and factors influencing the uptake of the dual vaccines made available among public health volunteers in Health Region 9. This study is a rapid, descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected by interviewing 18,074 public health volunteers in Health Region 9 between September 14 and October 19, 2023. The coverage rates for influenza and COVID-19 vaccines were 70% and 96.9%, respectively. The rate of receiving both the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines concurrently was 12.1%. Factors significantly affecting the uptake of dual vaccination included male, increasing age, increasing education level, and chronic diseases according to the criteria for receiving COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. Perception factors influencing vaccination uptake included risk of illness perception and risk of severity perception. Motivational factors included awareness of policies, the awareness that the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered concomitantly, government promotion of dual vaccination, health care providers offering dual vaccination, availability of free influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations, and the government's provision of sufficient vaccine supplies. The seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage among public health volunteers in Health Region 9 was in line with national policy. However, it is necessary to promote the concurrent administration of dual vaccines. In addition, it is also necessary to raise awareness about the risk of disease outbreaks, severity of diseases, and national policy, supporting the free vaccines, ensuring sufficient vaccine supply, and encouraging service units at all levels to offer the dual vaccine service since these combined efforts will help the target group access vaccines correctly.