Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Influenza Risk Perception and Vaccination Intention Among Pima County Residents in Arizona

Abstract

Background: While influenza cases in Arizona have nearly tripled since 2018, vaccination ratescontinue to lag. Statewide, Hispanics and African Americans had the lowest vaccination rates despite having higher influenza infection rates than Whites. Given Arizona's racial influenza vaccination disparity and the general increase in vaccination hesitancy due to COVID-19, the purpose of this study is to better understand the influences of seasonal influenza vaccination in Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Eleven focus groups were conducted to identify factors that influence the decision toget the seasonal influenza vaccine and explore the racial/ethnic differences in vaccination attitudes that influence decision-making. Focus groups were stratified by race, gender, and language. Results: Participants were motivated to get the influenza vaccine to protect their family andclose friends across all racial groups. The heightened concern for COVID-19 compelled some Hispanic/Latino focus group participants to consider getting vaccinated. However, many Hispanic/Latino participants also expressed that they stopped getting vaccinated due to negative vaccination experiences or concern about sickness following immunization. African American focus group participants primarily discussed receiving the vaccine as part of their routine health visit. Compared to other races, more White focus group participants believed that vaccination was unimportant because they were healthy and the people they interacted with never got sick. Conclusions: Distinct factors influence risk perception and vaccination intention across differentracial/ethnic groups. Interventions must account for these factors and be tailored to the target population to maximize vaccination uptake.