The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Young U.S. Children: A Socioeconomic Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery across the United States (U.S.), including childhood vaccine administration. This study analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative survey of the U.S. population, assessing trends and predictors of in...

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Main Authors: Tawny Saleh, Mina Shirazi, Mary C. Cambou, Karin Nielsen-Saines
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:COVID
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/2/20
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author Tawny Saleh
Mina Shirazi
Mary C. Cambou
Karin Nielsen-Saines
author_facet Tawny Saleh
Mina Shirazi
Mary C. Cambou
Karin Nielsen-Saines
author_sort Tawny Saleh
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery across the United States (U.S.), including childhood vaccine administration. This study analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative survey of the U.S. population, assessing trends and predictors of influenza vaccination uptake among children ≤ 5 years before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Influenza vaccination coverage declined significantly, from 56% in 2019 to 46% in 2022 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Age-specific declines were notable, with rates dropping among one-year-olds from 68% to 53%, two-year-olds from 63% to 49%, and infants from 31% to 24% (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed African American children had lower odds of vaccination compared to non-Hispanic White children (OR = 0.70, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while Asian children had higher odds (OR = 1.32, <i>p</i> = 0.018). Uninsured children were less likely to be vaccinated than insured children (OR = 0.71, <i>p</i> = 0.022). Regional analysis showed the Northeast had the highest vaccination rates (60% in 2019, 56% in 2022), while the South had the lowest (52% in 2019, 41% in 2022). These findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to address socioeconomic disparities and improve influenza vaccine uptake in young children in the U.S.
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spelling doaj-art-1d619e9901c94de2b11c250a0e79efde2025-08-20T03:12:18ZengMDPI AGCOVID2673-81122025-02-01522010.3390/covid5020020The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Young U.S. Children: A Socioeconomic AnalysisTawny Saleh0Mina Shirazi1Mary C. Cambou2Karin Nielsen-Saines3Department of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USASchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, North Kargar Street, Tehran 1439957131, IranDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USADivision of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USAThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare delivery across the United States (U.S.), including childhood vaccine administration. This study analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative survey of the U.S. population, assessing trends and predictors of influenza vaccination uptake among children ≤ 5 years before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Influenza vaccination coverage declined significantly, from 56% in 2019 to 46% in 2022 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Age-specific declines were notable, with rates dropping among one-year-olds from 68% to 53%, two-year-olds from 63% to 49%, and infants from 31% to 24% (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed African American children had lower odds of vaccination compared to non-Hispanic White children (OR = 0.70, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while Asian children had higher odds (OR = 1.32, <i>p</i> = 0.018). Uninsured children were less likely to be vaccinated than insured children (OR = 0.71, <i>p</i> = 0.022). Regional analysis showed the Northeast had the highest vaccination rates (60% in 2019, 56% in 2022), while the South had the lowest (52% in 2019, 41% in 2022). These findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to address socioeconomic disparities and improve influenza vaccine uptake in young children in the U.S.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/2/20influenza vaccinationchildrenCOVID-19 pandemicsocioeconomic disparitiespublic health strategies
spellingShingle Tawny Saleh
Mina Shirazi
Mary C. Cambou
Karin Nielsen-Saines
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Young U.S. Children: A Socioeconomic Analysis
COVID
influenza vaccination
children
COVID-19 pandemic
socioeconomic disparities
public health strategies
title The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Young U.S. Children: A Socioeconomic Analysis
title_full The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Young U.S. Children: A Socioeconomic Analysis
title_fullStr The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Young U.S. Children: A Socioeconomic Analysis
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Young U.S. Children: A Socioeconomic Analysis
title_short The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Young U.S. Children: A Socioeconomic Analysis
title_sort impact of the covid 19 pandemic on influenza vaccination coverage among young u s children a socioeconomic analysis
topic influenza vaccination
children
COVID-19 pandemic
socioeconomic disparities
public health strategies
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/2/20
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