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Tri-State Evaluation of the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Vaccine Uptake in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota, 2017–2021

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Abstract

The objective of this analysis was to evaluate and compare the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine and annual influenza vaccination in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Routine and annual influenza vaccination uptake and coverage between 2017 and 2021 was collected from each state’s immunization information system (IIS) by age group and stratified by provider and vaccine type. Data from 2017 to 2019 were averaged to obtain a pre-pandemic baseline and compared to 2020 and 2021 data. Percent changes were calculated to evaluate differences in uptake and coverage. Changes in coverage and administration varied by state, but each state had some level of decreased administration across the different age groups and vaccine types. The most consistent decreases in vaccine administration occurred in the 15-year-old cohort with each state finding decreased administrations in 2020 and 2021. The 12-year-old age group had decreased administration of hepatitis B, measles, mumps, and rubella, and varicella vaccine while the 2-year-old age group had the most consistent decrease in coverage across all vaccines analyzed. Trends by provider type were also noted in all three states, with local public health (LPH) experiencing the largest and most consistent declines in vaccine administrations by age group. Adult influenza coverage improved to varying degrees in 2020 (+ 14.1% IA, + 2.1% MN, + 1.5% ND), but either decreased or approached the 2017-19 average in 2021. All three states saw some level of decreased vaccine administration across the age groups, vaccines, and provider types assessed. The COVID-19 pandemic affected how many children and adults received recommended immunizations, leaving communities vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.

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Acknowledgements

A special thank you to Miriam Muscoplat, Melissa Anderson, Mary Woinarowicz, Molly Howell, Donald Callaghan, and Bethany Kintigh for their feedback and review of this manuscript.

Funding

This study was supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Immunization and Vaccines for Children Program Cooperative Agreements Project CC3 (funding opportunity IP19-1901). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of CDC, Minnesota Department of Health, North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, or Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert St N, PO Box 64975, St. Paul, MN, 55164, USA

    Naomi Jiter & Sydney Kuramoto

  2. North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Division, 600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND, 58505, USA

    Allison Dykstra

  3. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Division, 321 E 12th St, Des Moines, IA, 50319, USA

    Ona Loper & Jessica Schultz

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  1. Naomi Jiter
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Correspondence to Ona Loper.

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The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Minnesota Department of Health, and North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services reports financial support was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Jiter, N., Dykstra, A., Loper, O. et al. Tri-State Evaluation of the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Vaccine Uptake in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota, 2017–2021. J Community Health (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-024-01355-4

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