Health Worker Influenza Vaccination Programs: A Key to Pandemic Preparedness and Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need to rapidly vaccinate health workers and the broader population. This analysis examined whether low- and middle-income countries with established influenza vaccination programs for health workers were better positioned to deploy COVID-19 vaccines quickly and effectively.

Using publicly available WHO COVID-19 vaccination coverage data from 60 countries, alongside WHO–UNICEF Joint Reporting Form data and findings from COVID-19 vaccine post-introduction evaluations, we assessed the relationship between mature health worker influenza vaccination programs and COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Countries with mature health worker influenza vaccination programs achieved substantially higher COVID-19 vaccination coverage one year after rollout began. Adjusted average coverage reached 46% in countries with mature programs, compared with 25% in countries without them. Overall, vaccination coverage was 2.5 times higher in countries with mature programs.

These findings suggest that sustained investment in seasonal influenza vaccination for health workers may strengthen immunization systems, improve pandemic preparedness, and support faster, more complete vaccine deployment during future public health emergencies.