Vaccination Status, Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions of Vaccination against Influenza and Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Diabetic Population of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a clinical condition predisposing individuals to a higher risk of infection. Vaccination can reduce susceptibility to infections. Unfortunately, robust data on the vaccination status of our population with diabetes is lacking though we stand as a country with the third highest cases of diabetes worldwide. Therefore, we intend to identify the vaccination status of our diabetic population and assess people’s awareness and attitude toward vaccination against influenza and Pneumonia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey in which patients with diabetes were asked for relevant information as per a pre-defined questionnaire. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS 22.0 version. Results: We enrolled 526 patients; the mean age was 58 years (SD±10.9). The majority of participants were females 68 % (362/526), and 52% (274/526) were aware of being increasingly susceptible to influenza and pneumonia. Only 12 % (64/526) were vaccinated against influenza over the last 5 years and 7% (36/526) against pneumococcus. More males were vaccinated against influenza than females and this result was statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination were more common among the more affluent and more educated individuals this comparison was statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). A significant proportion of unvaccinated (374/460, 81%) showed a willingness to get vaccinated. Conclusion: The uptake of annual influenza every autumn, and one-off pneumococcal vaccines among diabetics in our region is very low. The importance of vaccination needs to be generated through effective awareness campaigns as people with diabetes showed keen interest in receiving relevant vaccination.