Influenza Vaccination Coverage, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Influencing Factors Among Patients with Liver Disease in Greece.

Abstract

Vaccination rates remain low despite the influenza vaccine's proven safety and efficacy in protecting vulnerable groups, such as individuals diagnosed with liver disease. This cross-sectional study investigated influenza vaccination coverage, attitudes, beliefs, and influencing factors among 152 patients with liver disease in Greece. Over half (53.6%) were diagnosed with hepatitis, and 40.4% with cirrhosis. Overall, 58.6% of participants received the seasonal influenza vaccine. Multivariate logistic regression showed that older age (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.11, p = .002), prior pneumococcal vaccination (OR = 17.98, 95% CI: 6.66-48.52, p < .001), and COVID-19 vaccination (OR = 5.77, 95% CI: 1.17-28.46, p = .031) were significantly associated with influenza vaccination in the current season. Similarly, older age (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.14, p < .001) and pneumococcal vaccination (OR = 25.75, 95% CI: 9.20-72.05, p < .001) were linked to annual influenza vaccination. About half of the participants are vaccinated yearly. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to improve vaccination rates among patients with liver disease. Gastroenterology healthcare professionals, as trusted information sources, can play a key role in promoting vaccine uptake and improving immunization coverage in this high-risk population.