Abstract Background and Objectives Understanding differences in blood donor vaccine uptake is essential for accurately interpreting serosurveillance of vaccine‐preventable diseases and other research using donor samples and/or data. We aimed to assess vaccination uptake in donors and non‐donors. Materials and Methods We linked the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study data to blood donation records, the Australian Immunization Register and death records. Participants were categorized as active donors, lapsed donors or non‐donors. Influenza, herpes‐zoster, pneumococcal and COVID‐19 vaccine uptake were analysed in the age groups recommended and eligible for free vaccination and for pertussis in the age group recommended. We calculated age‐ and sex‐adjusted uptake percentages and differences averaged across 2021–2023, except for COVID‐19 vaccine. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the association between donor status and vaccination uptake, adjusting for potential confounders. Results Of the 266,432 participants available for this research, 216,338 were eligible for analysis in 2021. Of these, 5734 (2.7%) were active donors, 29,237 (13.5%) were lapsed donors and 181,367 (83.8%) were non‐donors. Active donors had higher vaccination uptake than non‐donors (adjusted uptake ratio 95% confidence interval, CI for influenza 1.05 1.04, 1.06, herpes‐zoster 1.20 1.13, 1.28, pneumococcal 1.10 1.03, 1.17, pertussis 1.09 1.00, 1.18), ≥2 doses of COVID‐19 vaccine in 2021 1.02 1.01, 1.02 and booster COVID‐19 dose in the second half of 2023 1.08 1.02, 1.15. Similarly, lapsed donors had higher vaccination uptake than non‐donors. Conclusion Blood donors have a higher uptake for funded/recommended adult vaccines than non‐donors. These findings provide evidence of vaccination rate differences that may impact interpretation of studies where blood donor samples and/or data are used.
Karki et al. (Sun,) studied this question.