Introduction: Patients treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic agents for inflammatory arthritis and other rheumatological conditions are at increased risk of hospitalisation and death from infection. This increased risk is from the use of immunomodulatory agents, immunosuppression secondary to inflammation from the underlying rheumatological conditions as well as associated co-morbidities. Effective utilisation of vaccination for pneumococcal, influenza and herpes zoster can reduce associated morbidity and mortality in patients taking biological therapy.
Aim: We look to assess the uptake of the pneumococcal, herpes zoster, influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations in a cohort of patients known to a private Rheumatological clinic covering areas from Canberra, ACT and the South Coast, NSW. Secondary outcomes of this study include qualitative data including patients attitudes to vaccination, barriers in accessing vaccination and how to improve patient uptake of vaccinations.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on patients known to a private rheumatology clinic and collected data through telephone-based interviews and reviewing immunisation data from the Australian Immunization Health Record.
Outcomes: The primary outcome of this study was to determine the number of patients over the age of 18 on biological therapy who had received the recommended vaccinations after initiation of biological therapy. Vaccinations that were assessed for included pneumococcal, influenza, varicella and COVID-19. The secondary outcomes of this study included qualitative analysis assessing the patient’s views towards vaccination, initiation of vaccination in the community, how patients have been influenced by the media portrayal of COVID-19 vaccination, reasons why patients elected not to get vaccinated and what would help patients get vaccinated. Additionally, patients and medical records were assessed to determine hospitalisations with pneumonia or if there were any zoster episodes.
Results: Will be presented at the meeting
Conclusion: Will be presented at the meeting