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Hum Vaccin Immunother
. 2026 Dec;22(1):2710424.
doi: 10.1080/21645515.2026.2710424. Epub 2026 Aug 4.
The effect of short message reminders on seasonal influenza vaccination rates in the geriatric population
Seda Özmen Sever 1 , Saliha Büşra Aksu 1 , Güzin Zeren Öztürk 1
Affiliations
Seasonal influenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality in older adults, yet vaccination coverage in this population remains low. This study evaluated the association between short message service (SMS)-based informational and reminder messages and influenza vaccination uptake among adults aged 65 y and older. In this single-center prospective study, an SMS reminder was sent at the beginning of the 2024-2025 influenza season to 1690 individuals aged ≥65 y who had attended a family medicine outpatient clinic during the previous season. Demographic characteristics and prior-season influenza vaccination status were obtained from electronic medical records. At the end of the season, participants were contacted by telephone, and 338 individuals who completed follow-up were included in the final analysis. Influenza vaccination uptake increased from 16.9% in the 2023-2024 season to 31.4% in the 2024-2025 season, corresponding to an absolute increase of 14.5% points (p < .001). Among individuals vaccinated in the previous season, 52.6% were vaccinated again, while 27.0% of those unvaccinated in the previous season received the vaccine in the current season. In age-stratified analyses, the increase was significant in the young-old group (65-74 y) but not in the older age groups. In binary logistic regression analysis, prior-season influenza vaccination was the only factor significantly associated with current-season vaccination (OR,2.960; 95% CI,1.650-5.309; p < .001). Influenza vaccination uptake was significantly higher during the season in which SMS reminders were sent, suggesting that text messaging may support vaccination coverage among older adults, although additional age-tailored strategies may be needed for older subgroups.
Keywords: Influenza vaccine; geriatrics; primary healthcare; text messaging; vaccination rates.
. 2026 Dec;22(1):2710424.
doi: 10.1080/21645515.2026.2710424. Epub 2026 Aug 4.
The effect of short message reminders on seasonal influenza vaccination rates in the geriatric population
Seda Özmen Sever 1 , Saliha Büşra Aksu 1 , Güzin Zeren Öztürk 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 42550738
- DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2026.2710424
Seasonal influenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality in older adults, yet vaccination coverage in this population remains low. This study evaluated the association between short message service (SMS)-based informational and reminder messages and influenza vaccination uptake among adults aged 65 y and older. In this single-center prospective study, an SMS reminder was sent at the beginning of the 2024-2025 influenza season to 1690 individuals aged ≥65 y who had attended a family medicine outpatient clinic during the previous season. Demographic characteristics and prior-season influenza vaccination status were obtained from electronic medical records. At the end of the season, participants were contacted by telephone, and 338 individuals who completed follow-up were included in the final analysis. Influenza vaccination uptake increased from 16.9% in the 2023-2024 season to 31.4% in the 2024-2025 season, corresponding to an absolute increase of 14.5% points (p < .001). Among individuals vaccinated in the previous season, 52.6% were vaccinated again, while 27.0% of those unvaccinated in the previous season received the vaccine in the current season. In age-stratified analyses, the increase was significant in the young-old group (65-74 y) but not in the older age groups. In binary logistic regression analysis, prior-season influenza vaccination was the only factor significantly associated with current-season vaccination (OR,2.960; 95% CI,1.650-5.309; p < .001). Influenza vaccination uptake was significantly higher during the season in which SMS reminders were sent, suggesting that text messaging may support vaccination coverage among older adults, although additional age-tailored strategies may be needed for older subgroups.
Keywords: Influenza vaccine; geriatrics; primary healthcare; text messaging; vaccination rates.