Seasonal influenza vaccination uptake and digital literacy: Evidence from European data

This study documents the association between computer skills/digital literacy and influenza vaccination take-up among older adults in Europe during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, we find a positive partial correlation between influenza vaccination take-up and two indicators of pre-pandemic computer skills/digital literacy, self-assessed pre-pandemic computer skills and having used a computer at work in any pre-pandemic job. We estimate also a positive partial association between increased digital skills during the pandemic and take-up decision. We show that increased digital skills is more likely among those having already better pre-pandemic computer skills, suggesting that the pandemic might have exacerbated inequalities in take-up due to a widening in the so-called digital divide.