Tracking the behavioural and social drivers of adult influenza vaccination: Insights from Australia’s first serial survey

2026/04/30 by Maria Christou-Ergos, Majdi M. Sabahelzain, Maryke Steffens +4 · 1 voice
Medicine · #Influenza Virus Research Studies

paper · doi:10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100324

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The National Vaccination Insights Project sought to identify drivers of influenza vaccination intention in Australian adults in 2025, compare these to 2024 and explore reasons for non-intention in 2025. METHODS: A panel provider recruited 2009 adults using stratified sampling to reflect census data. A globally validated survey was administered online in March 2025. To understand influenza vaccination intention, logistic regression and thematic analysis were used to analyse survey and free-text responses, respectively. RESULTS: Drivers of influenza vaccination included perceived vaccine safety (aOR (adjusted odds ratio)= 2.02; 95% confidence interval: 1.10-3.69) and benefit (aOR:3.14; 95%confidence interval: 1.83-5.40), social responsibility (aOR= 3.31; 95%confidence interval: 1.98-5.52), decisional autonomy (aOR= 2.66; 95%confidence interval: 1.31-5.39), community leader influence (aOR= 2.24; 95%confidence interval: 1.35-3.73), religious leader influence (aOR= 2.14; 95%confidence interval: 1.12-4.11), and reminders (aOR= 2.55; 95%confidence interval: 1.09-5.95). Compared to 2024, 2025 saw increases in decisional autonomy (OR= 1.72, 95%confidence interval: 1.36-2.19), trust in health workers (OR= 1.58, 95%confidence interval: 1.34-1.87), community leader influence (OR= 1.52, 95%confidence interval: 1.22-1.89) and ease of access(OR= 1.26, 95%confidence interval: 1.04-1.54) and affordability (OR= 1.26, 95%confidence interval: 1.10-1.44, p = .001) but declines in perceived vaccine benefits (OR= 0.85, 95%confidence interval: 0.75-97) and social responsibility (OR= 0.85, 95%confidence interval: 0.75-0.99). Reasons for non-intention included beliefs about personal health, vaccines, and influenza, dissatisfaction with authorities during the pandemic, inconvenient vaccination processes and medical restrictions. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies ensuring accessible and affordable vaccination, emphasising influenza severity and transmissibility and leveraging social influences while building vaccine confidence and trust are important for bolstering influenza vaccine acceptance. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Routine monitoring of influenza vaccination drivers and barriers will support timely, effective strategies to improve coverage and provide insight into evolving public sentiment after the pandemic.

Discussions

• 🆕 What motivates Aussie adults to get their flu vax? Most want to be vaccinated and trust in healthcare professionals has risen, but cost and appointment access remain barriers. 🔗 doi.org/10.1016/ [bsky, 7 points, 0 comments]

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