Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage and its association with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

• Published in: Informatics in medicine unlocked 2021, Vol.27, p.100809-100809, Article 100809
• Main Authors: Jabr Alwazzeh, Marwan, Mohammed Telmesani, Laila, Saud AlEnazi, Abdulaziz, Abdulwahab Buohliqah, Lamia, Talal Halawani, Roa, Jatoi, Noor-Ahmed, Subbarayalu, Arun Vijay, Abdulaziz Almuhanna, Fahd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coronavirus; COVID-19; Influenza vaccine; Saudi Arabia; Seasonal influenza
• ISSN: 2352-9148; 2352-9148
• DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2021.100809

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still on-going worldwide. The available information regarding the seasonal influenza vaccine (SIV) coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on SARS-CoV-2 spread are limited. Moreover, it is argued that SIV may or may not lessen the COVID-19 severity. No previous studies have been revealed SIV coverage among COVID-19 patients and its association with COVID-19 spread and severity, especially in Saudi Arabia. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the influenza vaccine uptake in confirmed COVID-19 patients and investigate its impact on COVID-19 spread and severity. Accordingly, 1734 COVID-19 confirmed patients were included from three government hospitals in Saudi Arabia (SA). The data were collected electronically through a newly formed, self-administrated questionnaire. Among those patients, 335 were covered with SIV (19.31%), and the coverage rate of females and males was 23.4% and 15.8%, respectively. Severe COVID-19 cases were less in vaccinated patients than in non-vaccinated (2.69% vs. 3.5%, respectively). Additionally, the results showed a significant decrease in getting infected by SARS-CoV-2 after receiving SIV (P = 0.022). Even with the tremendous efforts to promote SIV uptake among the general population and high-risk groups, the SIV coverage in SA is not optimal yet. Nevertheless, there is a significant decrease in the probability of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 after receiving SIV. Such findings with the continuous progression of the COVID-19 pandemic call for a novel approach regarding vaccination policies to increase SIV and COVID-19 vaccine uptake.