Influenza Vaccination Among Pregnant People Before and During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Sep 1;142(3):636-639. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005285. Epub 2023 Aug 3.ABSTRACTThere are limited data on influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant people in the United States during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Within the Vaccine Safety Datalink, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine influenza vaccination coverage during the 2016-2017 through the 2021-2022 influenza seasons among pregnant people aged 18-49 years. Using influenza vaccines administered through March each season, we assessed crude coverage by demographic and clinical characteristics. Annual influenza vaccination coverage increased from the 2016-2017 season (63.0%) to a high of 71.0% in the 2019-2020 season. After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it decreased to a low of 56.4% (2021-2022). In each of the six seasons, coverage was lowest among pregnant people aged 18-24 years and among non-Hispanic Black pregnant people. The 2021-2022 season had the lowest coverage across all age and race and ethnicity groups. The recent decreases highlight the need for continued efforts to improve coverage among pregnant people.PMID:37590982 | DOI:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005285
Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology - Category: OBGYN Authors: Source Type: research