A quality improvement intervention failed to significantly increase pneumococcal and influenza vaccination rates in immunosuppressed inflammatory arthritis patients

Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination rates have been suboptimal in studies of immunosuppressed patients. We aimed to assess barriers to and increase rates of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and influenza vaccination in this group. The primary endpoint was a statistically significant increase in adequate PPSV23 and influenza vaccination.

In 2017, rheumatology outpatients completed an anonymous questionnaire recording vaccination knowledge, status, and barriers. Simultaneously, a low-cost multifaceted quality improvement (QI) intervention was performed. All outpatients on oral steroids, immunosuppressant conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) or biologics disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were included in the study. In 2018, post-intervention, the clinic was re-assessed. Demographics, diagnosis, medications, smart phone access, and willingness to use this for vaccination reminders were assessed for independent vaccination predictors using binary logistic regression analysis.

Four hundred twenty-five patients were included (72.6% rheumatoid arthritis, 74% women, 45.6% ≥ 60 years old). From 2017 to 2018, PPSV23 vaccination rates changed from 41.0 to 47.2% (P = 0.29) and influenza from 61.8 to 62.1% (P = 0.95). The most common reason for non-vaccination was lack of awareness. Following the intervention, this changed for influenza (36.7 to 34.2%) and PPSV23 (82.1 to 76.4%). General practitioners performed most vaccinations, only 3.6% were delivered in the hospital. Significant predictors of PPSV23 vaccination were older age {≥ 80 years had an OR 41.66 (95% CI 3.69–469.8, P = 0.003), compared with ≤ 39 years}, bDMARD use (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.24–6.32, P = 0.013), and adequate influenza vaccination (OR 9.01, 95% CI 4.40–18.42, P < 0.001). Up-to-date PPSV23 vaccination (OR 8.93, 95% CI 4.39–18.17, P < 0.001) predicted influenza vaccination.

PPSV23 and influenza vaccination rates were suboptimal. The intervention did not cause a statistically significant change in vaccination rates. Point-of-care vaccination may be more effective.