Headlines - Attitudes of 65- to 75-Year-Olds Toward Flu Vaccination, France 2016

People over 65 are a vulnerable population when it comes to seasonal flu in terms of complications (admission to intensive care units, etc.) and mortality. The 2016 Health Barometer by Santé publique France, a survey conducted via random sampling, explored for the first time the perceptions of a sample of 2,418 people aged 65 to 75 living in mainland France regarding seasonal influenza (severity and frequency) and its vaccine (effectiveness, serious side effects), as well as the relationship between these perceptions and their vaccination behavior during the winter of 2015–2016.In 2016, 45.9% of those aged 65–75 reported having received a flu vaccine during the 2015–2016 winter. This result is close to the vaccination coverage estimated by the French National Health Insurance for those over 65 that same year (50.8%). The difference may stem from the methodology used and the fact that those over 75—who were not surveyed but were included in the National Health Insurance calculation—may be more likely to be vaccinated than those under 75, as younger people tend to feel less concerned about the risks of severe influenza.In 2016, 81.3% of those aged 65–75 considered the flu to be serious, and 92.1% considered it to be common. The vaccine was effective for 64.3% of respondents, but nearly half (46.9%) believed it could cause serious side effects.People who reported that the vaccine is effective are 5.28 times more likely to get vaccinated (PR*=5.28, 95% CI [3.92–7.10]). Conversely, believing that the vaccine can cause serious side effects is associated with a lower probability of getting vaccinated (PR=0.69 [0.62–0.77]).The actual effectiveness of the flu vaccine depends on many factors, which may be related to the vaccine itself, the individual (poorer immune response in older adults), the virus strains circulating during the winter season—which may or may not match those in the vaccine—and the virulence of the A(H3N2) strains. Even with moderate efficacy, and given its positive risk-benefit balance, influenza vaccination helps prevent severe cases of influenza and excess mortality among older adults. We must continue to convey this message and combat misconceptions about the vaccine’s safety. Vaccination is strongly associated with advice from a healthcare professional, underscoring their essential role.

*PR = Prevalence Ratio