Predictors of seasonal influenza vaccination behaviour among nurses and implications for interventions to increase vaccination uptake: A cross-sectional survey

We aimed to assess attitudes towards the influenza vaccine and factors associated with a willingness to vaccinate against seasonal influenza in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic (flu season 2020/2021). This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out between 5 and 15 November 2020 on a representative nationwide sample of 1052 individuals aged 18+ in Poland. Of the respondents, 5.5% (95% CI: 4.3–7.0%) declared that they had already got vaccinated against influenza and 13.4% (95% CI: 11.4–15.6%) declared a willingness to vaccinate against influenza during the 2020/2021 season. Out of nine different factors analyzed in this study, only three were significantly associated with attitudes towards influenza vaccination. Participants aged 75 years and over (OR = 5.82; 95% CI: 2.63–12.85), as well as participants aged 60–74 years (OR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.30–4.54), compared to those aged 19–29, had significantly higher odds of having a positive attitude towards seasonal influenza vaccination. Respondents who define themselves as completely religious unbelievers (OR = 4.34; 95% CI: 1.79–10.55), as well as Internet users (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.30–3.47), had higher odds of having a positive attitude towards influenza vaccination. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of adults in Poland who already got vaccinated or declared a willingness to vaccinate against influenza remains low. This also applies to high-risk groups.

Download Full-text

Seasonal influenza vaccination: knowledge, attitude and practice in Varna, Bulgaria

Therapeutic Advances in Vaccines and Immunotherapy ◽

10.1177/2515135519868152 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 251513551986815

Author(s):

Neli M. Ermenlieva ◽

Gabriela S. Tsankova ◽

Tatina T. Todorova

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Negative Attitude ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Knowledge And Attitude ◽

Practice Knowledge

Background: Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for certain at-risk groups in Bulgaria, but vaccine coverage and the population’s perception of vaccination are currently unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the level of seasonal influenza vaccination in Varna Region, Bulgaria. It also aimed to investigate the status of knowledge and the attitude towards the reliability, safety, and other aspects associated with the use of influenza vaccines. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 responders in Varna Region, Bulgaria. They completed a questionnaire assessing the practice, knowledge, and attitude towards seasonal influenza vaccination. Results: Nearly 70% of all responders have never been vaccinated against seasonal influenza in their lives. The main reason indicated was a lack of confidence in the vaccine in general (53.7% of nonvaccinated responders). Individuals with insufficient knowledge, or with a negative perception, were more likely to not be vaccinated: being poorly informed and having a negative attitude towards influenza vaccination also decreased the chance of being vaccinated by 29% and 36%, respectively. Conclusions: This study indicates that efforts should be made towards achieving better understanding and knowledge of the vaccine’s mechanism of prevention and effectiveness among the Bulgarian population.

Download Full-text

Intention to have the seasonal influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic among eligible adults in the UK: a cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049369 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e049369

Author(s):

Susan M Sherman ◽

Julius Sim ◽

Richard Amlôt ◽

Megan Cutts ◽

Hannah Dasch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Positive Attitude ◽

Online Survey ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

The Uk ◽

To Receive

ObjectiveTo investigate the likelihood of having the seasonal influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals who were eligible to receive it.DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey in July 2020. We included predictors informed by previous research, in the following categories: sociodemographic variables; uptake of influenza vaccine last winter and beliefs about vaccination.Participants570 participants (mean age: 53.07; 56.3% female, 87.0% white) who were eligible for the free seasonal influenza vaccination in the UK.Results59.7% of our sample indicated they were likely to have the seasonal influenza vaccination, 22.1% reported being unlikely to have the vaccination and 18.2% were unsure. We used logistic regression to investigate variables associated with intention to receive a seasonal influenza vaccine in the 2020–2021 season. A positive attitude to vaccination in general predicted intention to have the influenza vaccine in 2020–2021 (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.77, p<0.001) but the strongest predictor of intention was previous influenza vaccination behaviour (OR 278.58, 95% CI 78.04 to 994.46, p<0.001).ConclusionsPrevious research suggests that increasing uptake of the influenza vaccination may help contain a COVID-19 outbreak, so steps need to be taken to convert intention into behaviour and to reach those individuals who reported being unlikely or unsure about having the vaccine.

Download Full-text

Parental perceptions of childhood seasonal influenza vaccination in Singapore: A cross-sectional survey

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.09.060 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (45) ◽

pp. 6096-6102 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Mabel S.F. Low ◽

Hweeyong Tan ◽

Mikael Hartman ◽

Clarence C. Tam ◽

Cheehow Hoo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Parental Perceptions ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

Download Full-text

Intention of nurses to accept coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination and change of intention to accept seasonal influenza vaccination during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.09.021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 38 (45) ◽

pp. 7049-7056 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kailu Wang ◽

Eliza Lai Yi Wong ◽

Kin Fai Ho ◽

Annie Wai Ling Cheung ◽

Emily Ying Yang Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

Download Full-text

Acceptance of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, 2016

Slovenian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2478/sjph-2019-0006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 47-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Veronika Učakar ◽

Alenka Kraigher

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽

Explanatory Variables

Abstract Introduction Vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for all healthcare workers including physicians in Slovenia to protect vulnerable individuals and reduce transmission of influenza viruses. The aim of our study is to determine the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, to identify factors associated with that vaccination and assess their attitudes and beliefs regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases. Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed among physician members of the Slovenian Medical Chamber. The link to the anonymous web-based questionnaire was sent to 8,297 physicians. We estimated the overall proportion of physicians who vaccinate against influenza, while the possible associations with collected explanatory variables were explored in univariate analyses. Results The response rate to the survey was 10.8%. 75.9% (95% CI: 73.1–78.7%) physicians vaccinate themselves against influenza (regularly or occasionally) and 24.1% (95% CI: 21.2–26.8%) do not vaccinate (not any more or never). In univariate analysis only, the area of work was statistically significant when associated with vaccinating against influenza (p=0.002). Among physicians who expressed some misconceptions regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases (it is better to overcome disease naturally as vaccines pose a higher risk than disease) the proportion of vaccinated against influenza was low (43.2%; 95% CI: 27.9–58.4%, 27.3%; 95% CI: 7.1–47.5%). Conclusion Not trusting in vaccination or professional recommendations regarding vaccination and some misconceptions regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases may influence the decision to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza among Slovenian physicians.

Download Full-text