Would patients over 65 years of age accept vaccination while hospitalised? An assessment of eligibility and acceptability

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is effective at preventing severe illness related to influenza, pneumococcal disease and coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19. Vaccine coverage among older Australians is incomplete, and hospitals currently administer very few vaccine doses. AIMS: This study investigated vaccination coverage for influenza, pneumococcal disease and COVID-19 among inpatients aged 65 years and over and patient-reported likelihood of accepting these vaccinations during hospitalisation. METHODS: A patient survey and audit of the Australian Immunisation Register were performed on 2 days in 2023 at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, Australia. All inpatients aged 65 years and over on the identified days (n = 506) were included in the audit. A total of 447 patients were offered surveys, with 311 (69.6%) responses. The likelihood of accepting vaccinations was self-reported on a 5-point scale. Audit and survey data were not linked. RESULTS: Survey-reported vaccination coverage was 39.2% for COVID-19 in the last 6 months, 68.2% for influenza in 2023 and 32.1% for pneumococcal vaccination ever. The proportion of patients 'likely' or 'very likely' to accept inpatient vaccination was 58.2% for COVID-19, 62.7% for influenza and 61.1% for pneumococcus. The median likelihood score was higher among respondents who reported to be vaccinated than unvaccinated (4 vs. 3; P < 0.0001). Audit vaccination coverage was 21.1% for COVID-19 in the preceding 6 months, 60.5% for 2023 influenza vaccine and 20.6% for the recommended pneumococcal vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated incomplete vaccination coverage for COVID-19, influenza and pneumococcal disease among older inpatients and patient interest in an inpatient vaccination programme.