Electronic Reminders Boost Flu Vaccination Rates in Denmark, Especially Among Heart Attack Survivors

A series of clinical trials in Denmark has demonstrated the effectiveness of electronic reminders in improving influenza vaccination rates, with particularly strong results among heart attack survivors. The research, presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024 and published in JAMA Cardiology, involved more than 2 million adults across three trials during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 flu seasons.

The study found that electronic messages highlighting the cardiovascular benefits of flu shots led to a 3.9% increase in vaccination rates among people with a history of heart attack, compared to a 2% increase for those without such history. The impact was even more pronounced among heart attack survivors who were not vaccinated in the previous flu season, with a remarkable 14% improvement in vaccination rates.

Dr. Ankeet Bhatt, the study's lead author, emphasized the importance of this research, stating, 'Yearly influenza vaccines help prevent influenza infection and, in patients with a heart attack, are potentially cardioprotective.' The findings are particularly significant given the current vaccination rates in Denmark, where about 80% of older adults receive flu shots, but only 40% of younger adults with chronic diseases do so.

The implications of this study extend beyond Denmark. With U.S. flu vaccination rates for the 2023-2024 season at approximately 45% for adults and 55% for children, according to the CDC, there is considerable room for improvement. The researchers suggest that this low-cost, scalable strategy could be implemented globally to enhance flu vaccination rates across healthcare systems and countries.

However, the study authors note that while this approach is promising, it alone does not close all implementation gaps for flu vaccination. They recommend testing additional strategies to fully address this important prevention gap in at-risk patients. The research team is already working on validating these findings in the United States, recognizing that effectiveness may vary in populations with lower baseline vaccination rates.

As healthcare systems worldwide continue to grapple with the challenge of improving vaccination rates, particularly among high-risk groups, this study offers a practical and potentially impactful solution. By leveraging simple electronic reminders focused on cardiovascular benefits, healthcare providers may be able to significantly increase flu shot uptake, potentially reducing the burden of both influenza and cardiovascular complications in vulnerable populations.