Willingness Towards Pneumococcal Vaccine Among the Elderly in the Klang Valley–a Cross-sectional Study

Background Pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) pose a significant health risk, especially to the elderly population. Pneumococcal vaccines are available for disease prevention, but uptake, particularly among the elderly is low. Gaining insight into the sociodemographic, knowledge and behaviour of the willingness for pneumococcal vaccination is paramount for improving vaccination rates and achieving better public health outcomes. Objective To determine overall willingness and associated factors for pneumococcal vaccination among the elderly. Methods This cross-sectional self-administered and interviewer-administered survey involved elderly participants from 14 selected Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas (PAWE) and a private elderly welfare home in Klang Valley. Data were collected through structured questionnaires that assessed respondents’ sociodemographic, self-reported knowledge of pneumococcal diseases, behavioural determinants using the Health Belief Modal (HBM) and trust components towards willingness to receive pneumococcal vaccine. Results A total of 402 respondents with a mean age of 66.4 years (standard deviation, SD = 5.6) were included in this study. The estimated mean willingness score was 8.20 (95% CI 8.01–8.39). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed factors associated with willingness towards pneumococcal vaccination are Perceived Severity (β = 0.092, 95% CI 0.019, 0.165, p = 0.013), Perceived Barrier (β = -0.144, 95% CI -0.182, -0.105, p < 0.001), Cues to Action (β = 0.242, 95% CI 0.150, 0.334, p < 0.001), Trust in Healthcare Authority (β = 0.241, 95% CI 0.133, 0.348, p < 0.001) and Trust in the Vaccine (β = 0.229, 95% CI 0.127, 0.331, p < 0.001). Conclusion The study identified potential factors towards pneumococcal vaccination among the elderly, which were primarily influenced by psychosocial factors. Socio-demographic factors and self-reported knowledge had no significant influence on the vaccination decision. Public health initiatives could tailor appropriate strategies and implement targeted interventions to foster vaccine uptake among the elderly.