HCWs show preference for intradermal flu vaccine
BETHESDA, Md. — Health care workers expressed a preference for and were more accepting of an intradermal influenza vaccine compared with traditional, intramuscular injection, according to data presented here.
“Five percent of the U.S. population gets the flu, and more than 200,000 of those people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications,” Julia B. Garcia-Diaz, MD, of Ochsner Medical Foundation in New Orleans, said during her presentation. “Three thousand to 49,000 flu-associated deaths occur yearly in the United States, and the best method to prevent those complications and those deaths would be to vaccinate. But as we all know, rates for influenza vaccine are suboptimal … as we’ve seen over the years in several flu seasons, there has been an improvement, but certainly we are not where we need to be at this point.”
In May 2011, Fluzone Intradermal vaccine (Sanofi Pasteur) was licensed in the U.S. Garcia-Diaz and colleagues assessed the acceptability and preference of the intradermal vaccine delivery method compared with the intramuscular flu vaccine. Ochsner Medical Center employees aged 18 through 64 years were recruited during their 2011 annual Employee Flu Fair, which runs August through September. The intradermal vaccine was administered to each participant, and the employees completed questionnaires immediately after immunization. A follow-up survey was administered 7 days later.
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Julia B. Garcia-Diaz
Of the 414 employees enrolled in the study, 83.6% responded to the questionnaire on the day of vaccination. Of those, 227 completed the questionnaire 1 week later. Approximately 80% of employees reported that they had received a traditional intramuscular flu vaccine in the last 3 years; 68% said they received it every year.
According to Garcia-Diaz, 88.3% of employees reported on day 1 that they were “very satisfied” with the intradermal vaccine. That number dropped to 57.4% 1 week later.
Approximately 45% of those who had received a prior intramuscular vaccine expressed less fear and anxiety and 73.3% reported less pain with the intradermal vaccine compared with the intramuscular vaccine.
On the day of vaccination, 74.3% of employees said they preferred the intradermal vaccine, compared with 52% who responded 1 week later. Similarly, about 73% of employees reported on the day of vaccination that they would prefer receiving the intradermal vaccine for the next flu season, compared with 52% who responded 1 week later.
Garcia-Diaz said the reason for the loss in satisfaction at 7 days may be due to the presence of redness at the injection site, and some employees reported itching.
When employees were asked about the speed of the vaccination process, 75% said the intradermal vaccine was faster.
Previous research has shown no difference in immune response between intradermal vs. intramuscular delivery of flu vaccine. According to the CDC, both vaccines are safe. However, the intradermal injection requires up to 40% less antigen than the traditional flu vaccine.
According to Garcia-Diaz, the findings demonstrate patients’ acceptance of the vaccine, offering an alternative to the traditional intramuscular vaccine.
“Patients have choices when it comes to getting vaccinated for flu,” she told Infectious Disease News. – by John Schoen
Reference:
Garcia-Diaz JB, et al. Abstract S10. Presented at: Annual Conference on Vaccine Research; April 13-15, 2015; Bethesda, Maryland.
Disclosure: Garcia-Diaz reports being on the speakers bureau for Astellas. Sanofi Pasteur donated the Fluzone Intradermal vaccine for the study.