Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34041476›Full record

ArticleVaccine: X2021

Seasonal influenza vaccination policies in the 194 WHO Member States: The evolution of global influenza pandemic preparedness and the challenge of sustaining equitable vaccine access.

Kathleen F Morales, David W Brown, Laure Dumolard, Claudia Steulet, Alba Vilajeliu, Alba Maria Ropero Alvarez, Ann Moen, Martin Friede, Philipp Lambach

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Vaccine: X, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
36citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

36 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  14. Disparities in Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Europe.Immunity, inflammation and disease · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kathleen F MoralesSierra Strategy Group, Evian les Baines 74500, France.
David W BrownPivot-23.5° / BCGI LLC, 19701 Bethel Church Road, Ste 103-168, Cornelius, NC 28031, USA.
Laure DumolardDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Claudia SteuletDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Alba VilajeliuComprehensive Family Immunization Unit, Department of Family, Health Promotion, and Life Course (FPL), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / WHO Regional Office for the Americas, Washington, DC, USA.
Alba Maria Ropero AlvarezComprehensive Family Immunization Unit, Department of Family, Health Promotion, and Life Course (FPL), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / WHO Regional Office for the Americas, Washington, DC, USA.
Ann MoenInfluenza Preparedness and Response, Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Martin FriedeDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Philipp LambachDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAs of 2018, 118 of 194 WHO Member States reported the presence of an influenza vaccination policy. Although influenza vaccination policies do not guarantee equitable access or ensure vaccination coverage, they are critical to establishing a coordinated influenza vaccination program, which can reduce morbidity and mortality associated with yearly influenza, especially in high-risk groups. Established programs can also provide a good foundation for pandemic preparedness and response.

methodsWe utilized EXCEL and STATA to evaluate changes to national seasonal influenza vaccination policies reported on the

resultsFrom 2014 to 2018 there was a small net increase in national seasonal influenza vaccination policies from 114 (59%) to 118 (61%). There was an increase in policies targeting high-risk groups from 34 in 2014 (34 /114 policies, 29%) to 56 (56/118 policies, 47%) in 2018. Policies were consistently more frequent in high-income countries, in WHO Regions of the Americas (89% of countries) and Europe (89%), and in countries satisfying all three immunization system strength indicators. Low and low-middle income countries, representing 40% of the worlds' population, accounted for 52/61 (85%) of countries with no evidence of a policy in either year.

conclusionOur results demonstrate that national influenza vaccination policies vary significantly by region, income, and immunization system strength, and are less common in lower-income countries. Barriers to establishing and maintaining policies should be further examined as part of international efforts to expand influenza vaccination policies globally. Next generation influenza vaccine development should work to address barriers to influenza vaccination policy adoption, such as cost, logistics for adult vaccination, country priorities, need for yearly vaccination, and variations in seasonality.

Indexed as

Global influenza vaccinesInfluenza vaccination policyJoint reporting formPandemic preparedness

Identifiers

PMID34041476
PMCPMC8143996

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.