A study led by the University of California, Riverside that included more than 3,200 emergency department (ED) patients across the United States found that although influenza vaccination awareness is widespread, most adults presenting to the emergency department are not up to date on their annual influenza vaccination.
The survey results are Emergency Medicine Journalsuggesting that EDs may play an important role in increasing vaccination rates, especially among medically underserved populations.
Led by Dr. Robert Rodriguez, professor of medicine at UCR, researchers surveyed 3,285 adult patients at 10 emergency departments in eight U.S. cities from April to December 2024. Almost all participants (96%) had heard of the influenza vaccine, and 77.6% reported having received an influenza vaccine at some point in their lives. However, 58.4% had not received an influenza vaccine within the past year and therefore did not reflect current recommendations.
The study also revealed important differences in vaccination status. Patients without a primary care provider were more than twice as likely to delay influenza vaccination, and uninsured patients and African American patients also had lower vaccination rates.
Among participants who were not up to date on the flu shot, 37% said they would get the flu shot if offered during an emergency department visit.
For many patients, the emergency department is often their only point of contact with the health care system. Our findings demonstrate that there is a significant opportunity to reach those without access to primary care and help close important gaps in influenza vaccination coverage. ”
Dr. Rajesh Gulati, co-author and professor of UCR School of Medicine
Influenza remains a major global public health threat, causing an estimated 650,000 deaths worldwide each year. Despite annual vaccinations being recommended for years, fewer than half of U.S. adults received the influenza vaccine during the 2023-2024 season.
Researchers found that lack of access to primary care was the strongest predictor of delayed influenza vaccination. More than one in five study participants reported not having a primary care provider.
“The message of this study is clear: Many patients who are unaware of or have not received preventive treatment elsewhere are eager to get vaccinated if given the opportunity,” said lead author Sanya Dharma, a medical student at UCR. “Emergency departments serve as an important public health safety net, not only for acute care but also for preventive services such as influenza vaccinations.”
Among patients who refused vaccination in the emergency department, the most common concerns were fear of vaccine side effects, wanting to know more about vaccines and influenza, and being too unwell at the time of presentation.
“These findings suggest that educational messaging and targeted outreach efforts may further improve uptake,” Rodriguez said.
A cross-sectional study was conducted at acute care hospitals in Chicago, Detroit, Durham, Philadelphia, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sylmar. Researchers surveyed adult patients about their knowledge of influenza vaccination, vaccination status, willingness to receive influenza vaccination in the emergency department, and reasons for accepting or refusing vaccination.
“Emergency departments are underutilized sites for influenza vaccination surveillance, education, and vaccine distribution,” Rodriguez said. “Expanding ED-based vaccination programs could help reduce influenza-related illness, hospitalization, and death, especially among populations with limited access to routine health care.”
This research was supported in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Rodriguez, Gulati, and Dharma participated in the study led by UCR’s Xiaokui Ji. Dr. Jesus Torres of UCLA. Dr. Brian Chinnock of UCSF Fresno; Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Rush University Medical Center, Illinois; Dr. Vijaya Arun Kumar of Wayne State University, Michigan; Dr. Christine L. Rising and Dr. Efrat Rosenzweig Keene of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Pennsylvania; Dr. Stephanie Uker of Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina; Dr. Melanie F. Molina of the University of California, San Francisco;
sauce:
University of California, Riverside
Reference magazines:
Dharma, S. Others. (2026). Current status and acceptance of influenza vaccines in a national sample of emergency department patients. Journal of Emergency Medicine. DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2026.05.011. https://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679(26)00157-5/abstract
