Willingness to vaccinate or get vaccinated with an intradermal seasonal influenza vaccine: a survey of general practitioners and the general public in France and Germany

Abstract

Introduction: The elderly are at high risk of severe seasonal influenza and influenza-related death. Annual vaccination can effectively prevent influenza and its complications, and is recommended in the elderly. In the present study, surveys were undertaken in France and Germany to determine whether INTANZA (sanofi pasteur, Val-de-Reuil, France), the first intradermal influenza vaccine, administered using an innovative microneedle injection system, might influence physicians' likelihood of recommending influenza vaccination or the likelihood that the general public would seek influenza vaccination.

Methods: Physicians (France: n=260; Germany: n=223) and members of the general public aged ≥ 50 years (France: n=1706; Germany: n=1072) completed online surveys. Details of the INTANZA delivery system, and a "product profile" based on the properties of INTANZA, were presented.

Results: Most physicians and the general public found INTANZA and its microneedle injection system appealing. The main benefit of INTANZA, as perceived by physicians and the public, was the small needle size. Physicians also found the high immunogenicity compared with conventional intramuscular (IM) vaccines attractive. The majority of physicians believed that INTANZA would strongly help them to recommend vaccination to their unvaccinated patients (66% to 91%, depending upon patient characteristics); most (61% to 78%) would prefer to prescribe INTANZA rather than an IM vaccine. More than two-thirds of the unvaccinated general public would prefer INTANZA over IM vaccines, and the option of vaccination with INTANZA would encourage a large proportion of them to get vaccinated (60% to 74%), if it was recommended and they were given the choice. Physicians (≥ 82%) agreed that INTANZA may help increase vaccination coverage rates.

Conclusion: The results of these surveys indicate that the availability of INTANZA may encourage physicians to recommend influenza vaccination, and members of the general public to get vaccinated. INTANZA may help to improve seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates.