Emergency department study shows major gaps in flu vaccination

by Iqbal Pittalwala, University of California - Riverside

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

Gaby Clark

Scientific Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process

Andrew Zinin

Lead Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

trusted source

proofread

The GIST Add as preferred source

A University of California, Riverside-led study of more than 3,200 emergency department (ED) patients across the United States found that while awareness of influenza vaccination is widespread, most adults seen in EDs are not up to date on their annual flu vaccine.

The findings, published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, suggest that EDs could play an important role in increasing vaccine coverage, particularly among medically underserved populations.

Led by Dr. Robert Rodriguez, a professor of medicine in the UCR School of Medicine, the researchers surveyed 3,285 adult patients at 10 emergency departments in eight U.S. cities between April and December 2024. Nearly all participants (96%) had heard of the influenza vaccine, and 77.6% reported receiving a flu vaccine at some point in their lives. However, 58.4% had not received a flu vaccine within the past year and therefore were not up to date with current recommendations.

The study also identified significant disparities in vaccination status. Patients without a primary care provider were more than twice as likely to be behind on influenza vaccination, with lower vaccination rates also seen among uninsured patients and Black patients.

Among participants who were not up to date on their flu vaccination, 37% said they would accept a flu shot if it were offered during their emergency department visit.

"Emergency departments are often the only point of contact with the health care system for many patients," said co-author Dr. Rajesh Gulati, a professor of medicine in the UCR School of Medicine. "Our findings show that there is a substantial opportunity to reach people who may not have access to primary care and help close important gaps in influenza vaccination coverage."

Influenza remains a major global public health threat, contributing to an estimated 650,000 deaths worldwide each year. Despite longstanding recommendations for annual vaccination, fewer than half of U.S. adults received a flu vaccine during the 2023–2024 season.

The researchers found that lack of primary care access was the strongest predictor of being behind on influenza vaccination. More than 1 in 5 study participants reported not having a primary care provider.

"The message from this study is clear: Many patients who are either unaware of or not receiving preventive care elsewhere are willing to be vaccinated when given the opportunity," said Sanya Dhama, first author of the paper and a medical student at UCR. "Emergency departments can serve as a critical public health safety net—not only for acute care, but also for preventive services such as influenza vaccination."

Among patients who declined vaccination in the emergency department, the most common concerns were fear of vaccine side effects, a desire for more information about vaccines and influenza, and feeling too ill at the time of the visit.

"These findings suggest that educational messaging and targeted outreach could further improve acceptance," Rodriguez said.

The cross-sectional study was conducted at EDs in Chicago, Detroit, Durham, Philadelphia, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sylmar. The researchers surveyed adult patients regarding their knowledge of influenza vaccination, vaccination status, willingness to receive a flu shot in the emergency department, and reasons for vaccine acceptance or refusal.

"Emergency departments represent an underutilized venue for influenza vaccination surveillance, education and vaccine delivery," Rodriguez said. "Expanding ED-based vaccination programs could help reduce influenza-related illness, hospitalization and death, particularly among populations with limited access to routine health care."

Publication details

Sanya Dhama et al, Up to Date Status and Acceptance of the Influenza Vaccine among a National Sample of Emergency Department Patients, The Journal of Emergency Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2026.05.011

Journal information: Journal of Emergency Medicine

Key medical concepts

Influenza vaccineFluEmergency Service, Hospital

Clinical categories

Emergency medicineCommon illnesses & PreventionPreventive medicineInfectious diseases Provided by University of California - Riverside Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

Citation: Emergency department study shows major gaps in flu vaccination (2026, June 17) retrieved 18 June 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-emergency-department-major-gaps-flu.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.