Attitudes, beliefs and practice of Egyptian healthcare workers towards seasonal influenza vaccination

Abstract

Background: Seasonal influenza vaccination is highly recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs) every year to protect them and reduce the risk of disease transmission at workplaces. Relatively few studies addressed influenza vaccination in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Objectives:The main objective of this study was to explore the attitudes, beliefs and practice of Egyptian HCWs towards seasonal influenza vaccine.Methods: This is a nationwide cross-sectional study. Data were collected through self-administered structured questionnaire. A sample of 3534 HCWs (physicians and nurses) was collected from different levels of healthcare facilities. Results:The proportion of seasonal influenza vaccine uptake during the last season was 30.7% while the percentage of ever vaccinated was 46.8%. The most identified reason for non-compliance was lack of trust about vaccine efficacy and its adverse events. Around 80% of participants expressed positive attitude towards influenza vaccine and the vast majority (98%) agreed to uptake the vaccine during pandemic.There was significant positive association between attitude score and influenza vaccine uptake. Raising awareness about vaccine and ensuring vaccine availability were the main suggestions by HCWs to improve vaccine uptake. Conclusions:Although there was positive attitude towards influenza vaccine, yet vaccination coverage was suboptimal particularly among those working in university hospitals. Educational messages and operational strategies addressing motivators and barriers that emerged from this study are needed to optimize vaccine uptake.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with frequent influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel in Peru, 2016─2018

“…Overall, about 60% of HCP infrequently received influenza vaccines over an eight-year period; this population with low influenza vaccine uptake was primarily physicians and HCP who worked in an outpatient setting. Similar trends in low influenza vaccination coverage have been seen among HCP in KAP studies in Honduras [17] , Costa Rica [18] , Egypt [19] , and parts of the Middle East [20] . This low coverage was also seen in the general HCP population recruited into this study but excluded from analysis.…”

“…We found that 18% of HCP surveyed reported lacking some basic knowledge of influenza and its vaccine, 75% did not believe they were susceptible to influenza, 43% had concerns about vaccination, and 48% did not recall their supervisor recommending influenza vaccination to them. These gaps in influenza vaccine knowledge and trust among healthcare personnel have also been reported in Peru and other countries [19] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] . Healthcare facilities could improve influenza vaccine education by providing continuing medical education credits for courses focused on influenza prevention and treatment.…”

The Role of Psychological Factors and Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs in Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake among Jordanian Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Globally, an extensive variability in influenza vaccine coverage was reported across different regions [73][74][75][76][77]. This could be related to different policies adopted regarding influenza vaccination, including those related to compulsory vaccination, in addition to challenges associated with the procurement, storage and distribution of vaccines, particularly in low-to middle-income countries [28,78].…”

Hesitancy for influenza vaccine among healthcare workers and mothers of preschool children: A cross-sectional study in Zagazig, Egypt

“…The prevalence of seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in the last season was 30.7%, while the percentage of the “ever vaccinated” was 46.8%. [ 14 ] This study was designed to determine the prevalence of influenza vaccine hesitancy and the reasons for the hesitancy of HCWs and mothers of preschool children attending Zagazig Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) Center in Sharqia Governorate.…”