scholarly journals Increasing seasonal influenza vaccination among high risk groups in China: Do community healthcare workers have a role to play?

Vaccine ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (33) ◽  
pp. 4060-4063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Song ◽  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Liling Chen ◽  
Bo Yi ◽  
Xiaoning Hao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Community Healthcare ◽  
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Community Healthcare Workers

scholarly journals Community pharmacist-administered seasonal influenza vaccination: a national customer survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Stämpfli ◽  
Adrian Martinez-De la Torre ◽  
Sophie Du Pasquier ◽  
Danielle Stegmann ◽  
Andrea Brügger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Community Pharmacist ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Injection Technique ◽  
Equal Distribution ◽  
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Influenza Vaccinations

Abstract Background In Switzerland, the influenza vaccination is recommended for high-risk groups and people who have contact with high-risk groups. Since 2015, Swiss pharmacists are allowed to vaccinate healthy adults after acquiring a certificate of competence for vaccination and blood sampling techniques. We aimed to assess customers of the seasonal influenza vaccination in pharmacies in regard to their satisfaction, motivation, and reasons. Methods Swiss pharmacies collected survey data during a period of 12 weeks from mid-October 2019 to mid-January 2020. Each participating pharmacy was sent 20 questionnaires to be handed out to vaccinated customers. The questionnaire was available in German and French and subdivided into four sections: demographic information, satisfaction, reasons for getting the vaccination, and reasons for choosing a pharmacy as a place of vaccination. We tested for statistical differences in answer tendencies across strata on questionnaire language, age groups, and levels of education. Results Of the 1600 surveys sent, 80 pharmacies sent back 656 completed questionnaires (return rate, 41%). Main age bracket was 65–74 years (26.2%), followed by 55–64 years (24.7%), with an equal distribution of reported sex (female, 49.5%). Of the respondents, 99% would have recommended the service and 88.5% felt very comfortable being vaccinated by a pharmacist. Satisfaction included injection technique, used facilities, preparatory discussions, and pricing of the service. Easy scheduling was a main motivation for choosing a pharmacy as the vaccination provider. We identified minor differences in answer tendencies across questionnaire language and age groups, but not across levels of education. Conclusion Customer satisfaction with community pharmacist-administered seasonal influenza vaccinations is high in Switzerland.

scholarly journals Seasonal influenza vaccination: from hesitancy to social norm

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 902
Author(s):  
Asif Parvez Malik ◽  
Sanjeewa Sumathipala
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Social Norm ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
World Health

Seasonal influenza is of the most globally burdening vaccine-preventable diseases, infecting 3-5 billion people annually and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) resulting in 250,000 to 500,000 deaths worldwide. Vaccination against influenza and all respiratory infections carries greater emphasis in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. With added pressure on healthcare systems due to the coronavirus, Qatar is one country that is keen to emphasise the importance of influenza vaccination to prevent potential co-infection causing severe disease especially in high-risk groups. Currently seasonal influenza vaccines protect against 3 or 4 strains with revised data from the WHO twice yearly due to the changing natures of strains helping to maximise efficacy of the vaccines. It is recommended for specific high-risk groups to be prioritised for vaccination, including pregnant women, the elderly, children above 6 months of age, patients with chronic conditions as well as front line healthcare workers with risk of exposure. However, uptake of the vaccine remains low and contributes significantly to the burden of the disease. Barriers to vaccine uptake can be physical, such as unhealthy lifestyles, psychological, such as perception of disease as low-risk, contextual, such as lack of access to vaccinations, or sociodemographic, such as living alone. Vaccine coverage can be increased by knowledge of these barriers and how to address them. The physical barriers highlight the need to support behavioural change in lifestyle in order to increase vaccine uptake. Psychological barriers, usually due to misconceptions, can be addressed with education through public health campaigns and interactions between health professionals and patients. This education is not just a need for patients but also healthcare workers. It is up to healthcare providers and contractors to find ways of addressing contextual and sociodemographic barriers by increasing access to vaccination whether through transport, or home–care etc. A key barrier of those mentioned to vaccination is a lack of knowledge which needs to be addressed though positive discussions about the health benefits of immunisation as well as the traditional idea of disease-risk prevention. Addressing the above barriers will help to increase vaccine uptake, and produce health-conscientious societies where vaccination becomes a social norm.

scholarly journals Impact of national influenza vaccination strategy in severe influenza outcomes among the high-risk Portuguese population

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ausenda Machado ◽  
Irina Kislaya ◽  
Amparo Larrauri ◽  
Carlos Matias Dias ◽  
Baltazar Nunes
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Vaccination Strategy ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Risk Population ◽  
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Severe Influenza ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background All aged individuals with a chronic condition and those with 65 and more years are at increased risk of severe influenza post-infection complications. There is limited research on cases averted by the yearly vaccination programs in high-risk individuals. The objective was to estimate the impact of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccination on averted hospitalizations and death among the high-risk population in Portugal. Methods The impact of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccination was estimated using vaccine coverage, vaccine effectiveness and the number of influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths. The number of averted events (NAE), prevented fraction (PF) and number needed to vaccinate (NVN) were estimated for seasons 2014/15 to 2016/17. Results The vaccination strategy averted on average approximately 1833 hospitalizations and 383 deaths per season. Highest NAE was observed in the ≥65 years population (85% of hospitalizations and 95% deaths) and in the 2016/17 season (1957 hospitalizations and 439 deaths). On average, seasonal vaccination prevented 21% of hospitalizations in the population aged 65 and more, and 18.5% in the population with chronic conditions. The vaccination also prevented 29% and 19.5% of deaths in each group of the high-risk population. It would be needed to vaccinate 3360 high-risk individuals, to prevent one hospitalization and 60,471 high-risk individuals to prevent one death. Conclusion The yearly influenza vaccination campaigns had a sustained positive benefit for the high-risk population, reducing hospitalizations and deaths. These results can support public health plans toward increased vaccine coverage in high-risk groups.

scholarly journals Seasonal influenza immunisation in Europe. Overview of recommendations and vaccination coverage for three seasons: pre-pandemic (2008/09), pandemic (2009/10) and post-pandemic (2010/11)

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Mereckiene ◽  
S Cotter ◽  
A Nicoll ◽  
P Lopalco ◽  
T Noori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
European Economic Area ◽  
Clinical Risk ◽  
The Impact

Since 2008, annual surveys of influenza vaccination policies, practices and coverage have been undertaken in 29 European Union (EU)/ European Economic Area (EEA) countries. After 2009, this monitored the impact of European Council recommendation to increase vaccination coverage to 75% among risk groups. This paper summarises the results of three seasonal influenza seasons: 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11. In 2008/09, 27/29 countries completed the survey; in 2009/10 and 2010/11, 28/29 completed it. All or almost all countries recommended vaccination of older people (defined as those aged ≥50, ≥55, ≥59, ≥60 or ≥65 years), and people aged ≥6 months with clinical risk and healthcare workers. A total of 23 countries provided vaccination coverage data for older people, but only 7 and 10 had data for the clinical risk groups and healthcare workers, respectively. The number of countries recommending vaccination for some or all pregnant women increased from 10 in 2008/09 to 22 in 2010/11. Only three countries could report coverage among pregnant women. Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage during and after the pandemic season in older people and clinical groups remained unchanged in countries with higher coverage. However, small decreases were seen in most countries during this period. The results of the surveys indicate that most EU/EEA countries recommend influenza vaccination for the main target groups; however, only a few countries have achieved the target of 75% coverage among risk groups. Coverage among healthcare workers remained low.

scholarly journals Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers and Vaccine Allocation for Healthcare Workers During Vaccine Shortages

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 882-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Talbot ◽  
Suzanne F. Bradley ◽  
Sara E. Cosgrove ◽  
Christian Ruef ◽  
Jane D. Siegel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Healthcare Associated ◽  
Vaccine Shortages

AbstractInfluenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality annually, particularly in high-risk groups such as the elderly, young children, immunosuppressed individuals, and individuals with chronic illnesses. Healthcare-associated transmission of influenza contributes to this burden but is often under-recognized except in the setting of large outbreaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended annual influenza vaccination for healthcare workers (HCWs) with direct patient contact since 1984 and for all HCWs since 1993. The rationale for these recommendations is to reduce the chance that HCWs serve as vectors for healthcare-associated influenza due to their close contact with high-risk patients and to enhance both HCW and patient safety. Despite these recommendations as well as the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase HCW vaccination rates, the percentage of HCWs vaccinated annually remains unacceptably low. Ironically, at the same time that campaigns have sought to increase HCW vaccination rates, vaccine shortages, such as the shortage during the 2004-2005 influenza season, present challenges regarding allocation of available vaccine supplies to both patients and HCWs. This two-part document outlines the position of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America on influenza vaccination for HCWs and provides guidance for the allocation of influenza vaccine to HCWs during a vaccine shortage based on influenza transmission routes and the essential need for a practical and adaptive strategy for allocation. These recommendations apply to all types of healthcare facilities, including acute care hospitals, long-term-care facilities, and ambulatory care settings.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document