Co-Administration of Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccines: Policy Review and Vaccination Coverage Trends in the European Union, UK, US, and Canada between 2019 and 2023

Abstract

Recommending co-administration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines has emerged as a strategy to enhance vaccination coverage. This study describes the policy on co-administration and uptake of influenza and COVID-19 vaccination in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada between 2019 and 2023. We collected co-administration policy data from governmental websites, national health organizations, and newspapers. Influenza vaccination coverage among persons ≥65 years and COVID-19 vaccination coverage rates among persons ≥60 years or the general population were collected using national databases, the ECDC database, or ourworldindata.org between 2019 and 2023. Descriptive analyses were used. We collected data from 30/32 (94%) countries on vaccination policy in seasons 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, with most countries (25/30 to 30/30) having policies recommending co-administration. For influenza vaccination coverage, we collected data from 29/32 (91%, 2019–2020), 28/32 (88%, 2020–2021), 27/32 (84%, 2021–2022), and 6/32 (19%, 2022–2023) countries. COVID-19 vaccination was collected from 32/32 (2020–2021), 31/32 (97%, 2021–2022), and 24/32 (75%, 2022–2023) countries. Influenza vaccination coverage increased from 2019–2020 to 2021–2022. COVID-19 vaccination coverage was higher among countries with higher influenza vaccination coverage. By 2022–2023, all countries included implemented a policy supporting co-administration. A positive correlation existed between higher influenza vaccination coverage and higher COVID-19 vaccination rates.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• influenza
• vaccine co-administration
• vaccination policy
• public health surveillance
• vaccine coverage