Influenza Vaccination Among Pregnant People Before and During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

There are limited data on influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant people in the United States during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Within the Vaccine Safety Datalink, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine influenza vaccination coverage during the 2016-2017 through the 2021-2022 influenza seasons among pregnant people aged 18-49 years. Using influenza vaccines administered through March each season, we assessed crude coverage by demographic and clinical characteristics. Annual influenza vaccination coverage increased from the 2016-2017 season (63.0%) to a high of 71.0% in the 2019-2020 season. After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it decreased to a low of 56.4% (2021-2022). In each of the six seasons, coverage was lowest among pregnant people aged 18-24 years and among non-Hispanic Black pregnant people. The 2021-2022 season had the lowest coverage across all age and race and ethnicity groups. The recent decreases highlight the need for continued efforts to improve coverage among pregnant people.

Automated summary

Limited data on influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant people in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic show an increase in annual coverage from the 2016-2017 season to the 2019-2020 season, followed by a decrease in coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coverage was lowest among pregnant people aged 18-24 years and non-Hispanic Black pregnant people. The recent decreases emphasize the need for ongoing efforts to improve vaccination coverage among pregnant people.