Vaccines – beliefs and concerns: the voice of patients with inflammatory immunomediated diseases

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is a key issue in patients with immunomodulated inflammatory diseases on immune-mediated therapy. Still, vaccination rates in these patients are low. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and fears of patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) regarding vaccines, with the ultimate goal of increasing vaccination rates through the definition and implementation of more effective communication strategies with the patient. METHODS: This study was conducted in a Portuguese hospital, between January 2019-December 2020, and included adult patients with an IMID. A questionnaire was developed and applied to evaluate knowledge and fears regarding vaccines. RESULTS: From the 275 included patients, more than 90% answered correctly to all questions on general knowledge, with an exception for the question related to protection from severe disease, without differences between age groups or education levels, except for the question about vaccine contraindications (P = 0.017). Regarding vaccines in immunocompromised hosts, the proportion of correct answers was lower and significantly different between education levels (P = 0.00–0.042),. More than 50% of the participants showed moderate to very high concern about several aspects of vaccines, with differences between age groups (P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Our patients have general knowledge of vaccines but regarding vaccines in immunocompromised patients knowledge is lower and dependent on the education level. In addition, age influences the pattern of concerns related to vaccines. The information gathered in this study shall be considered to identify potential local interventions targeted to improve vaccination.