Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trends in Influenza Vaccination and Health Screening Among Korean Adults.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on influenza vaccination and health screening trends in Korea. A total of 49 299 individuals aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2013-2015, 2016-2019, or 2020-2022 (the COVID-19 era) with available information on influenza vaccination, health screening, and cancer screening status were included. Multivariate regression models were used to compare the estimated prevalences of behaviors during these three phases. The COVID-19 pandemic arrested the increasing health screening trend and reversed the increasing cancer screening trend, whereas the influenza vaccination rate continuously increased, irrespective of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, subgroup analysis revealed: (1) that during the COVID-19 pandemic, no increasing trend in influenza vaccination was evident for older adults (≥65 years old) or individuals with a lower socioeconomic status and (2) that even during COVID-19 pandemic, older adults and women were more actively screened. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected influenza vaccination and health screening rates among Korean adults but affected specific populations differently.