Background: Within the VEBIS-EHR project, monthly vaccine effectiveness (VE) of COVID-19 vaccines is routinely estimated across EU/EEA countries. While VE quantifies direct protection, it does not capture the overall population benefit of vaccination campaigns in terms of severe outcomes prevented. Aim: To estimate the impact of the 2023 and 2024 autumn COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in adults aged [≥]65 years. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records data from Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Navarre (Spain), Portugal, Norway and Sweden. Weekly numbers of averted COVID-19-related hospitalisations and deaths during the 12 months following each campaign were estimated using observed COVID-19-related events, vaccine coverage (VC) and interpolated weekly VE. Results: Across participating countries/regions, among adults aged [≥]65 years, the 2023 autumn vaccination campaign averted approximately 6,200 hospitalisations (prevented fraction [PF] 10%) compared with 2,200 (PF 12%) in 2024. Among those aged [≥]80 years, the number of averted COVID-19-related deaths was 811 (PF 13%) for the 2023 campaign and 156 (PF 12%) for the 2024 campaign. Impact varied across countries, reflecting differences in VC, vaccination timing and outcome occurrence. Conclusion: The 2023 and 2024 autumn vaccination campaigns resulted in substantially different numbers of averted COVID-19-related hospitalisations and deaths among older adults, with fewer events averted in 2024. These findings highlight that the impact of vaccination programmes depends not only on VC and VE but also on alignment between vaccination timing and periods of increased viral circulation.
Y. Mansiaux, A. Blake, N. Nicolay et al.· medRxiv· 0 citations
Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are prioritised to receive influenza vaccine annually in Georgia. We aimed to identify factors associated with influenza vaccine uptake among Georgian HCWs. Methods We used self-reported influenza vaccination data for three influenza seasons (2021–2024) and 2023 survey data on attitudes towards influenza from a prospective cohort of HCWs in six hospitals in Georgia. HCWs who received influenza vaccine in at least one season were compared with those who were not vaccinated in any season. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with vaccination uptake. Findings Of 403 participants, the median age was 46 (IQR 36–54), 364 (90%) were female, 168 (42%) were nurses or midwives, 85 (21%) were support staff, 75 (19%) were doctors, and 75 (19%) were other staff. Overall, 289 (72%) received influenza vaccine in at least one season, while 114 (28%) did not receive it in any season. Multivariable analysis showed no differences in vaccine uptake by sex or occupation. HCWs ≥ 30 years were more likely to be vaccinated, with those aged 40–49 having the highest odds (aOR 2.67, 95% CI 1.09–6.59). HCWs who did not believe the vaccine was safe (aOR 0.27, 95% CI 0.11–0.68), those who doubted its effectiveness (aOR 0.36, 95% CI 0.14–0.89), and HCWs at Hospital B (aOR 0.06, 95% CI 0.02–0.23) were less likely to be vaccinated. Conclusions Georgian HCWs who questioned influenza vaccine safety and effectiveness, and those at one hospital, had lower odds of vaccination over three years, whereas older HCWs were more likely to be vaccinated. Future campaigns to promote influenza vaccination among HCWs should address safety and effectiveness concerns and target demographic disparities.
O. Artemchuk, Giorgi Chakhunashvili, Iris Finci et al.· PLoS ONE· 0 citations
