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Comparative Study
. 2025 May;120(5):464-472.
doi: 10.1111/vox.70006. Epub 2025 Feb 27.

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination in Canadian blood donors: A comparison across pre- and post-pandemic periods

Sheila F O'Brien  1   2 , Lori Osmond  1 , Mindy Goldman  3   4 , Steven J Drews  5   6
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination in Canadian blood donors: A comparison across pre- and post-pandemic periods

Sheila F O'Brien et al. Vox Sang. 2025 May.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Seasonal vaccinations reduce donor illness and appointment cancellations and ensure plasma products have antibodies to vaccine-directed strains. We aimed to describe donor influenza and COVID-19 vaccination history and compare this with the general population.

Materials and methods: Two online donor surveys were carried out in 2021 and 2024. Donors were asked about demographics, influenza (2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2023/2024 seasons) and COVID-19 (ever and 2023/2024 season) vaccination and reasons for vaccination choices. General population vaccination statistics were extracted from public reports. Percentages of donors receiving vaccination were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted with demographics as independent variables.

Results: In survey 1, 4582 (30.4% response rate) donors completed a questionnaire; in survey 2, 6376 (21% response rate). More donors under age 65 received the influenza vaccine compared with the general population under age 65 (58% vs. 30% in 2019/2020, 63% vs. 28% in 2023/2024, p < 0.0001) and aged 65+ (81% vs. 70% in 2019/2020, 90% vs. 73% in 2023/2024, p < 0.0001). Fewer donors and the general population received the COVID-19 vaccine in 2023/2024 (under 65 45% vs. 39%; 65+ 76% vs. 67%, p < 0.0001). Most said they were vaccinated to prevent infection and protect others.

Conclusion: Seasonal vaccination rates are higher in older donors, consistent with public health recommendations. Blood donors are more likely to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza than the general population, but post-pandemic uptake of the COVID-19 booster vaccine was low, more similar to the general population.

Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; blood donors; influenza; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Percentage of donors who reported having influenza vaccination by age group and year.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Percentage of donors by age group who reported ever having COVID‐19 vaccination (a) and who reported having COVID‐19 vaccination in the 2023/2024 season (b).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. O'Brien SF, Goldman M, Ehsani‐Moghaddam B, Fan W, Osmond L, Pambrun C, et al. SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination in Canadian blood donors: insight into donor representativeness of the general population. Vaccine X. 2024;18:100498. - PMC - PubMed
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    1. World Health Organization . Statement on the antigen composition of COVID‐19 vaccine. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/26-04-2024-statement-on-the-antigen-compos.... Last accessed 25 Nov 2024.

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