Older adults are at high risk of influenza and tend
to develop serious flu complications. Therefore,
vaccination is recommended, especially for older
adults who are frequently in contact with children,
who are at, at high risk of influenza infection. Our
study formed part of the “Valuing Vaccination Across
Generations” campaign in Japan, which advocates
the importance of vaccination across generations.
We conducted a questionnaire survey for older
adults who belong to REPRINTS, a picture book
reading volunteer program for older adults, and
examined their vaccination status and related
factors. It was found that, approximately half of the
participants received influenza vaccination each
year. Furthermore, recognition of the effectiveness of
vaccination, anxiety about contracting influenza and
getting information were significantly correlated to
vaccination status. In promoting intergenerational
exchanges, it is necessary to provide information not
only on the significance of a disease but also on
proactive health management strategies, such as
vaccination.
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