P28: COVID‐19 VACCINE UNCERTAINTY AMONGST PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIC DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA. LEARNING FROM A PATIENT ADVOCACY ORGANISATION
Michael Casten 1 , Karen Wong2, Maria Said2,3
1Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia2Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia3The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Purpose: The Australian national vaccination program for COVID‐19 began on 21 February 2021, with specific advice regarding the use and administration of the vaccines in people with a history of allergic disease. Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) is a patient advocacy organisation for people with allergic disease and those who care for them. A&AA receives direct health support requests from the public relating to various aspects of managing allergic disease. Following an increase in COVID‐19 vaccine related enquiries, an online webinar presented by clinical immunology/allergy specialists with expertise in drug allergy and vaccinology was scheduled to disseminate factual information on COVID‐19 vaccination for people with allergic disease. Metrics on the webinar and surrounding promotion were obtained in order to: 1) understand the reach of A&AA's assistance; and 2) understand the utilisation of evidence‐based resources.
Method: An audit of requests for support related to COVID‐19 vaccination was undertaken. A&AA conducted a COVID‐19 vaccination webinar and promoted it through three social media posts. Metrics were obtained for the webinar and related social media posts.
Results: A&AA received 45 direct enquiries for health support related to the COVID‐19 vaccines. In response to these direct enquires a COVID‐19 vaccine webinar was held on 15 March 2021. This webinar was attended by 97 individuals and subsequently viewed 8,107 times as an on‐demand digital resource. Across A&AA's social media channels, 738 people engaged with the three social media posts relating to the webinar, with a total reach of 13,003 people.
Conclusion: The findings of this audit demonstrate the ability for allergy focused patient advocacy organisations to assist in the dissemination of evidence‐based information on the appropriateness of COVID‐19 vaccination for people with allergic disease during times of uncertainty.