Supporting data for: Assessing knowledge, attitudes, willingness, and barriers to pneumococcal vaccination among Canadian older adults: a cross-sectional survey

Pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with older adults aged 65 and above at particularly high risk for invasive pneumococcal infections. In Canada, pneumococcal vaccination has been recommended for this age group since 1989, yet coverage remains below national targets. Currently, only about 55% of older adults report being vaccinated, falling short of the 80% target. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, willingness, and barriers to pneumococcal vaccination among unvaccinated older adults.

We used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial conducted as a cross-sectional survey among community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older, residing in any of the ten Canadian provinces, and who self-identified as unvaccinated against pneumococcal disease. The survey was administered online using a tailored web-based electronic data capture system. Data were collected between June 20, 2024, and December 12, 2024, capturing data on participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to receive the vaccine, along with perceived barriers. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with willingness to be vaccinated, categorized as “willing”, “not willing”, and “I don’t know”.

Data Access Note: The anonymized study datasets are not included in this metadata submission. Access may be granted upon request to the study team for appropriate research or verification purposes. Depending on the intended use, external researchers may need approval from their own institutional research ethics board, and a confidentiality agreement may be required. Requests can be directed to: Giorgia Sulis at [e-mail]