Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Objective:To assess factors associated with influenza vaccination of healthcare workers.Design:Cross-sectional survey.Setting:University-affiliated Veterans' Affairs medical center.Participants:Staff physicians and nurses employed by the medical center.Methods:A mailed, self-administered questionnaire.Results:The response rate was 38.0%. The mean age of the respondents was 43.6 years, 71.5% were females, and 26.2% were physicians. Nearly all of the practitioners had daily or weekly contact with elderly or high-risk patients. The influenza vaccination rate of the respondents was 61.2%. More than 50% of vaccine recipients indicated that avoiding illness, protecting patients, and being able to receive the vaccine conveniently and free of charge all were very important factors influencing their decisions to receive the vaccine. Avoiding illness was rated the most important factor by 58.8% of vaccine recipients. Among vaccine nonrecipients, concern about side effects was identified as a very important factor by 36.2% and as the most important factor by 30.9%.Vaccine recipients were significantly more likely than were vaccine nonrecipients to indicate that influenza and its complications are very serious for high-risk patients. They also were more likely to report that the vaccine is very effective, that influenza vaccination is uncommonly associated with side effects, that healthcare workers' risk for contracting influenza is higher than the general public's risk, and that it is very important for healthcare workers to receive the vaccine to decrease risk for transmission to high-risk patients. After stepwise logistic regression, variables independently associated with receipt of vaccine were age, prior receipt of vaccine, being a physician, considering the vaccine to be very effective, believing that systemic side effects are uncommon, and indicating that it is very important for healthcare workers to receive vaccine for the protection of their patients.Conclusion:Many healthcare workers fail to receive influenza vaccine each year. Strategies to improve immunization levels should address concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy, barriers to vaccination including inconvenience and cost, and the reasons for targeting healthcare workers.

Willingness of healthcare workers to accept voluntary stockpiled H5N1 vaccine in advance of pandemic activity

“…Once a healthcare worker has been vaccinated against seasonal influenza, this is a strong predictor of seasonal vaccine uptake in subsequent years [8][9][10][11][18][19][20][21]. This study shows that the receipt of previous seasonal vaccine is also strongly associated with a willingness to accept pre-pandemic vaccine.…”

Understanding motivators and barriers of hospital-based obstetric and pediatric health care worker influenza vaccination programs in Australia

“…30 Several Australian and international studies have shown that following one seasonal influenza vaccination, many HCWs will continue to be vaccinated in subsequent seasons, suggesting it is well worth an organisations time to tailor strategies that best suit their individual workforce, particularly focusing on developing a strong culture for new employees. [24][25][26][27]29,32 Many HCWs commented on the lack of privacy, location of administration and the need for greater rotational trolley to their work environment, these are organisational barriers that could readily be addressed in any future influenza vaccination campaigns to improve vaccination rates. This is the first study to explore in depth the attitudes, barriers and motivators toward seasonal influenza vaccine uptake of Australian HCWs working in pediatric and obstetric environments.…”

“…While the reasons for and against influenza vaccinations have been well studied in other developed countries, [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] it is unclear as to whether these reasons are similar or different in Australian HCWs. Additionally, it is possible that the reasons for and against influenza vaccinations might differ for Australian HCWs serving pediatric 12 or obstetric populations compared with other patient groups.…”

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding influenza vaccination among employees at child care centers - Ohio.

“…Other studies have also shown that offering free vaccines to healthcare personnel leads to higher coverage rates [Ohrt and McKinney 1992;Thomas et al 1993;Nafziger and Herwaldt 1994;Nichol and Hauge 1997;Hall et al 1998;Martinello et al 2003]. …”