Vaccination Status, Knowledge Levels, and Influencing Factors Among Hemodialysis Patients: A Study from Istanbul
TL;DR
Vaccination rates—particularly for pneumococcal disease—were higher than those reported in previous studies, potentially due to increased post-pandemic health awareness and active recommendations by healthcare professionals.
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the vaccination rates, knowledge levels, and the influence of demographic, socioeconomic, and health perception factors on the uptake of influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, and COVID-19 vaccines among patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Methods: Between February and March 2024, a structured questionnaire was administered to 224 patients from 3 HD centers (3 private, 1 public) in Istanbul. The survey collected data on demographic characteristics, vaccination status, attitudes toward vaccines, and sources of vaccine-related information. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 22.0. Results: The vaccination rates were 77.2% for influenza, 56.1% for pneumococci, 85.7% for COVID-19, and 90.5% for hepatitis B. However, only 32.6% of participants had received all 4 recommended vaccines. Vaccination status was significantly associated with age, gender, education level, marital status, type of health insurance, and dialysis duration. The most commonly cited reasons for non-vaccination were “not perceiving vaccination as necessary” and “lack of adequate information.” Nephrologists were identified as the most trusted source of vaccine information by 95.5% of participants. Conclusion: Vaccination rates—particularly for pneumococcal disease—were higher than those reported in previous studies, potentially due to increased post-pandemic health awareness and active recommendations by healthcare professionals. Enhancing vaccine uptake in the HD population requires a comprehensive approach that addresses not only informational barriers but also perceived risk, healthcare access, and social support. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational efforts and policy-level strategies to improve vaccination coverage in this high-risk group. Cite this article as: Şaşak G, İkiışık H, Ergen P, Bakan A, Ecder SA, Maral I. Vaccination status, knowledge levels, and influencing factors among hemodialysis patients: A study from Istanbul. Turk J Nephrol. 2026;35(3):244-251.