A Survey of Primary Care and Pulmonary Providers' Influenza, Pneumococcal and Covid-19 Vaccine Practices

Aim: Factors influencing vaccine uptake are varied and understanding barriers to adult vaccination is limited. Provider recommendations can improve uptake so we sought to understand practices and perspectives concerning adult influenza, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccination.Subjects and Methods: We created a survey using questions adapted from published sources examining influenza vaccine uptake, refusals, and disparities. We conducted an IRB-approved survey via REDCaps of physicians and advanced practice providers in adult primary care and pulmonology at Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System.Results: Twenty-eight percent of 454 eligible participants responded. Those surveyed self-reported high rates of counseling regarding respiratory vaccines for high-risk adults (92% influenza, 87% pneumococcal, and 100% COVID-19). A majority (64%) reported their practice used an immunization information system (IIS) to assess immunization status and sent vaccine reminders a third of the time. Providers reported patients had the following misperceptions regarding the influenza vaccine: would make them sick (87%), would contract influenza (66%), not severe enough to warrant vaccination (74%). Barriers to provider-discussions on influenza were lack of time (47%) and other health issues taking precedence (44%).Conclusions: Despite barriers to extensive discussions, providers frequently discussed vaccinations with patients, utilizing written or electronic alerts, although patient reminders were rarely sent.