Perceptions of Seasonal Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccines Among Older Chinese Adults

Judy Yuen‐man Siu

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Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections Intramuscular injections and effects

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Seasonal influenza can lead to pneumonia. In Hong Kong, deaths from pneumonia increased steadily from 2001 to 2015, and pneumonia was the second most common cause of death between 2012 and 2015. The seasonal influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine have been clinically proven as effective measures against these two diseases among older adults, who are at particularly high risk. Despite the availability of vaccine subsidies, however, more than 60% of older adults in Hong Kong remain unvaccinated against pneumococcal diseases and seasonal influenza. The objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions and barriers associated with the seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations among older adults in Hong Kong. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A qualitative approach of individual semistructured interviews was adopted; 40 adults aged 65 years and older were interviewed between September and November 2016. RESULTS: The intersecting influences of belief of vaccines as harmful, low perceived risk of contracting the diseases, negative rumors about the vaccines, lack of promotion by health care providers, the perceived risk posed by the vaccinating locations, and the preference of using traditional Chinese medicine were discovered to prevent the participants from receiving the two vaccinations. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Perceptions and cultural factors should be considered in future vaccination promotion among older adults. This study found that, in particular, the participants' cultural associations and stereotypes of hospitals and clinics and health care providers' lack of perceived need to vaccinate older adults contributed to low vaccine acceptance among the participants.

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References

1985Naturalistic inquiry 2007Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups 2006A General Inductive Approach for Analyzing Qualitative Evaluation Data 1916THE ELEMENTARY FORMS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE 2002Research methods in anthropology: qualitative and quantitative approaches 2009Qualitative methods for health research 2000Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men's well-being: a theory of gender and health 2021Qualitative Research Methods

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2022Enabling Factors, Barriers, and Perceptions of Pneumococcal Vaccination Strategy Implementation: A Qualitative Study 2024Exploring Perceptions and Practices Regarding Adult Vaccination against Seasonal Influenza, Tetanus, Pneumococcal Disease, Herpes Zoster and COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study in Greece 2025Mapping Behavioral and Social Drivers of Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Older Adults: A Scoping Review

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