Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis Positive on Vaccination

While patients with inflammatory arthritis expressed generally positive views on vaccination in January 2020, less than half knew which specific vaccines were recommended for them, according to study findings published in ACR Open Rheumatology.

“This highlights the need for improved consumer information about vaccinations for people with inflammatory arthritis, and rheumatologists have a key role in the provision of education and vaccination advice to both patients and their general practitioners,” wrote corresponding author Catherine L. Hill, MD, of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woodville South, Australia, and coauthors.

The study was based on responses to an online questionnaire from 994 patients with inflammatory arthritis in the Australian Rheumatology Association Database. Questionnaires were completed in January 2020, just before the widespread onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two-thirds of survey respondents were female, and the median age of respondents was 62 years.

Some 83% of patients reported influenza vaccine adherence within the past 12 months, according to the study. Among patients 65 years and older, adherence was 89%. In patients younger than 65 years, influenza vaccine adherence was 79%.

Overall, participants’ vaccination views were generally positive, especially in terms of safety, efficacy, and access, the study found. Nevertheless, just 43% of patients said they were clear on which vaccinations they were recommended to receive.

“Vaccine hesitancy was primarily attributable to uncertainty and a perceived lack of information about which vaccines were recommended,” researchers reported.

The most frequently used sources for vaccine information were general practitioners, rheumatologists, and pharmacists, all of whom were likely to provide positive views on vaccination. On the other hand, internet chatrooms, social media, and mainstream media were common sources of negative vaccination views, the study indicated. Patient factors associated with greater vaccination uncertainty and lower adherence were younger age, male gender, and having more concerns about harms and overuse of medicine in general.

“Our study was conducted prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our on-going research will examine differences and similarities in attitudes and adherence between COVID-19 vaccines and other recommended vaccines,” researchers wrote, “and whether misinformation about COVID-19 has subsequently influenced views about other vaccinations.”

Reference
Lyon A, Quinlivan A, Lester S, et al. Vaccination rates, perceptions, and information sources used by people with inflammatory arthritis. ACR Open Rheumatol. 2023;5(2):84-92. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11525