Vaccination for influenza and pneumococcus in patients with gastrointestinal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease: A prospective cohort study of methods for improving coverage

Summary Background Although influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations for high‐risk populations are recommended by current guidelines, vaccination coverage is low in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GC) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aim To evaluate the impact of a specialised infectious disease consultation on vaccination coverage rates in these patients. Methods Between December 2016 and April 2017, all patients with GC or IBD followed in the outpatient clinic of the Gastroenterology department at the Nancy University Hospital enrolled in a 3‐phase vaccination programme. Phase 1: Initial questionnaire (vaccination status, knowledge about vaccines and possible barriers to vaccination); Phase 2: Infectious disease consultation; Phase 3: Subsequent questionnaire (evolution of patients’ knowledge about vaccination). Results A total of 366 patients were included (GC = 99, IBD = 267). Vaccination rate was 34.7% for influenza and 14.5% for pneumococcus. About 43% of the patients feared side effects of vaccines. After the initial questionnaire, 49.3% of the interested patients participated in a specialised vaccination consultation (n = 102). 87.3% (n = 89) received new vaccination, 41.2% changed their mind about vaccination, and 92.2% would recommend this programme to other patients. Among vaccinated patients, 97.8% (n = 87) received pneumococcal vaccine, 40.4% received tetanus‐diphtheria‐polio vaccine, and 7.9% received influenza vaccine. In GC patients, anti‐pneumococcal vaccination rate was 87.5% after the specialised consultation compared with 10.1% before. In IBD patients, corresponding rates were 85.7% and 16.1%. Conclusions A specialised infectious disease consultation can improve GC and IBD patients’ knowledge about vaccination and vaccination coverage. This approach could be applied to all high‐risk populations.