AB1157 SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION: KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES IN RHEUMATIC PATIENTS
Authors: G. Figueroa-Parra, L. Santoyo-Fexas, A. Moreno-Salinas, C. M. Gamboa-Alonso, A. L. De-Leon-Ibarra, D. Á. Galarza-Delgado, J. A. Esquivel Valerio
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: Vaccines are one of the safest and effective public health interventions (1). Patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable infections (2). Seasonal Influenza vaccination (SIV) had shown to reduce the incidence, complications, admissions, and mortality from Influenza in patients with RD (3). Vaccine hesitancy is one of the threats to global health established by the WHO. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of rheumatic patients about SIV. Methods: A self-questionnaire was applied during a community speech for rheumatic patients in October 2019 and also was applied in the rheumatology clinic of the university hospital “Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez” in Monterrey, Mexico, between November and December 2019. The questionnaire asks age, rheumatic diagnosis, and ten questions. Results are shown in descriptive statistics, the Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to compare groups. A P-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: A total of 205 self-questionnaires were applied. 122 (59.5%) in the community speech and 83 (40.5%) in the clinic. The median age was 55 (45.75-62.25) years in the community population and 44 (28-59) years in the clinic, also the diagnosis distribution was different (Table 1). Most patients considered that rheumatic patients can be vaccinated. About 80% of patients have ever been vaccinated for seasonal influenza. 87.7% and 77.1% considered that SIV is safe and effective. About 85% of patients considered SIV the best way to avoid complications of Influenza. About 40% considered not safe to be vaccinated for influenza and other vaccine at the same time. 23.8% and 48.2% considered that SIV weakens the immune system and renders it susceptible to infections. Most of the patients know that SIV is free. 23.0% and 42.2% consider other measures better than SIV. 17.2% and 33.7% considered that SIV will get them worse instead of helping them, and 9.0% and 14.5% think that his RD will get worst with SIV. Table 1. Population Characteristics Community N= 95 Clinic N= 83 P Age, years, median (IQR) 55 (45.75-62.25) 44 (28-59) 0.001* Diagnosis, n (%) -RA 67 (70.5) 46 (55.4) 0.037* -OA 14 (14.7) 7 (8.4) 0.194 -SLE 3 (3.2) 11 (13.3) 0.013* -Other AID 8 (8.4) 8 (9.6) 0.780 -Other NAID 3 (3.1) 11 (13.2) 0.012* Conclusion: Misinformation about SIV is patent among rheumatic patients. It is a big challenge to clarify these myths to gain confidence about his safety and effectiveness and provide his benefits. References: [1]Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2013;9(8):1774-1778. [2]Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2018;14(6):1311-1322. [3]Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79:39-52 Table 2. Questionnaire Community N= 122 (%) Clinic N= 83 (%) P 1. Can rheumatology patients be vaccinated? Yes 114 (93.4) 75 (90.4) 0.420 No 8 (6.6) 8 (9.6) 2. Have you ever been vaccinated for Influenza? Yes 97 (79.5) 68 (81.9) 0.668 No 25 (20.5) 15 (18.1) 3. Influenza vaccine is safe and effective: Yes 107 (87.7) 64 (77.1) 0.045* No 15 (12.3) 19 (22.9) 4. The best way to avoid compilations of influenza is by using SIV: Yes 104 (85.2) 71 (85.5) 0.953 No 18 (14.8) 12 (14.5) 5. It is safe to be vaccinated for Influenza and other vaccines at the same time: Yes 73 (59.8) 48 (57.8) 0.774 No 49 (40.2) 35 (42.2) 6. SIV weakens the immune system and renders it susceptible to infections Yes 29 (23.8) 40 (48.2) &lt;0.001* No 93 (76.2) 43 (51.8) 7. Do you know that SIV is freely provided? Yes 115 (94.3) 76 (91.6) 0.453 No 7 (5.7) 7 (8.4) 8. Herbal medications, traditional medicine and some food (like orange) are better than SIV: Yes 28 (23.0) 35 (42.2) 0.003* No 94 (77.0) 48 (57.8) 9. SIV instead of helping me will get me worst: Yes 21 (17.2) 28 (33.7) 0.006* No 101 (82.8) 55 (66.3) 10. SIV will worst my rheumatic disease: Yes 11 (9.0) 12 (14.5) 0.226 No 111 (91.0) 71 (85.5) Disclosure of Interests: None declared