Social contacts, vaccination decisions and influenza in Japan

Bibliographic Data

ID11176504
AuthorsYoko Ibuka (0000-0001-5505-8988, Tohoku University, corresponding author), Yasushi Ohkusa (0000-0003-2804-3320, National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Tamie Sugawara (0000-0002-8632-8618, National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Gretchen B Chapman (0000-0002-1146-480X, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey), Dan Yamin (0000-0002-1131-5572, Yale University), Keletso E Atkins (0000-0001-5250-0558, Yale University), Katherine E Atkins (Yale University), Kiyosu Taniguchi (0000-0003-4584-6168, National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Nobuhiko Okabe (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Alison P Galvani (0000-0002-2059-6716, Yale University)
Year2016
Volume70
Issue2
Pages162-167
Publication date2016-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0143-005X • E-ISSN: 1470-2738
PublisherBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/jech-2015-205777
PMID26424846
OpenAlexW2267558281
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited19

BACKGROUND: Contact patterns and vaccination decisions are fundamental to transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. We report on age-specific contact patterns in Japan and their effect on influenza vaccination behaviour. METHODS: Japanese adults (N=3146) were surveyed in Spring 2011 to assess the number of their social contacts within a 24 h period, defined as face-to-face conversations within 2 m, and gain insight into their influenza-related behaviour. We analysed the duration and location of contacts according to age. Additionally, we analysed the probability of vaccination and influenza infection in relation to the number of contacts controlling for individual's characteristics. RESULTS: The mean and median reported numbers of daily contacts were 15.3 and 12.0, respectively. School-aged children and young adults reported the greatest number of daily contacts, and individuals had the most contacts with those in the same age group. The age-specific contact patterns were different between men and women, and differed between weekdays and weekends. Children had fewer contacts between the same age groups during weekends than during weekdays, due to reduced contacts at school. The probability of vaccination increased with the number of contacts, controlling for age and household size. Influenza infection among unvaccinated individuals was higher than for those vaccinated, and increased with the number of contacts. CONCLUSIONS: Contact patterns in Japan are age and gender specific. These contact patterns, as well as their interplay with vaccination decisions and infection risks, can help inform the parameterisation of mathematical models of disease transmission and the design of public health policies, to control disease transmission

Age groups · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Disease · Infectious disease (medical specialty) · Public health · Social contact · Social distance · Transmission (telecommunications) · Vaccination · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Demography · Immunology · Influenza Virus Research Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Gerontology

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