Prevalence of Influenza Vaccination Uptake and Health Attitudes Among Adults in China: A China National Health and Wellness Survey Study
Author(s)
Amanda Woo, PhD1, Nikoletta Sternbach, BA2, Neeyor Bose, PhD1.
1Oracle Life Sciences, Singapore, Singapore, 2Oracle Life Sciences, Austin, TX, USA.
1Oracle Life Sciences, Singapore, Singapore, 2Oracle Life Sciences, Austin, TX, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Influenza vaccination significantly reduces the disease burden of influenza virus infections. This study assessed the prevalence of influenza vaccination and associated health attitudes among adults in urban China.
METHODS: This study utilized data from the China National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), a recurring self-reported, internet-based, cross-sectional survey administered to adults aged ≥18 years in 12 countries. Respondents were recruited through general-purpose web-based panels. To ensure representation of individuals aged ≥50 years and those without access to internet-based devices, supplemental telephone or in-person surveys were conducted, with the latter proceeding in designated facilities. Sampling was stratified by age and sex to align with China’s demographic composition. Data were weighted based on age, sex, region and urban to reflect the national adult population (age ≥18 years) according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Respondents of 2020 China NHWS were categorised based on self-reported influenza vaccination uptake within the preceding 12 months. Respondents’ characteristics and health attitudes were assessed.
RESULTS: Influenza vaccine uptake was ~6% (40.3 M, n=1,207) in 2020. Vaccinated individuals were younger than non-vaccinated individuals (40.0 years vs. 44.6 years), had received more vaccines (any-type) (3.37 vs. 1.41) and were likely to have comorbidities, higher healthcare resource utilisation and greater work impairment. Common reasons for non-vaccination included the belief that the vaccine was harmful/contained bad ingredients (13%) or was unnecessary due to infrequent flu episodes/have a strong immune system (11%). Vaccinated individuals perceived their doctor as attentive (60% vs. 47%), regularly contacted their physicians for illness prevention (60% vs. 51%), or took preventive prescription medication (33% vs. 26%).
CONCLUSIONS: The China NHWS revealed that the influenza vaccine uptake was low, potentially due to vaccine safety/necessity concerns and reduced engagements with healthcare providers. Addressing vaccine safety/necessity perceptions and enhancing healthcare communication may be crucial to improve uptake.
METHODS: This study utilized data from the China National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), a recurring self-reported, internet-based, cross-sectional survey administered to adults aged ≥18 years in 12 countries. Respondents were recruited through general-purpose web-based panels. To ensure representation of individuals aged ≥50 years and those without access to internet-based devices, supplemental telephone or in-person surveys were conducted, with the latter proceeding in designated facilities. Sampling was stratified by age and sex to align with China’s demographic composition. Data were weighted based on age, sex, region and urban to reflect the national adult population (age ≥18 years) according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Respondents of 2020 China NHWS were categorised based on self-reported influenza vaccination uptake within the preceding 12 months. Respondents’ characteristics and health attitudes were assessed.
RESULTS: Influenza vaccine uptake was ~6% (40.3 M, n=1,207) in 2020. Vaccinated individuals were younger than non-vaccinated individuals (40.0 years vs. 44.6 years), had received more vaccines (any-type) (3.37 vs. 1.41) and were likely to have comorbidities, higher healthcare resource utilisation and greater work impairment. Common reasons for non-vaccination included the belief that the vaccine was harmful/contained bad ingredients (13%) or was unnecessary due to infrequent flu episodes/have a strong immune system (11%). Vaccinated individuals perceived their doctor as attentive (60% vs. 47%), regularly contacted their physicians for illness prevention (60% vs. 51%), or took preventive prescription medication (33% vs. 26%).
CONCLUSIONS: The China NHWS revealed that the influenza vaccine uptake was low, potentially due to vaccine safety/necessity concerns and reduced engagements with healthcare providers. Addressing vaccine safety/necessity perceptions and enhancing healthcare communication may be crucial to improve uptake.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-09, ISPOR Real-World Evidence Summit 2025, Tokyo, Japan
Value in Health Regional, Volume 49S (September 2025)
Code
RWD304
Topic Subcategory
Reproducibility & Replicability
Disease
STA: Vaccines