Factors affecting influenza vaccine uptake among health care workers in the Medical and Health Sciences Center of Debrecen University, Hungary

Influenza vaccination is the most effective way of influenza prevention. The vaccination rate is low worldwide. In Hungary, the vaccine is free of charge to health care workers and, therefore, the low vaccination rate is unaccountable. Aims: In this study, the authors wanted to explore those factors which influence the refusal of vaccination. Methods: The Health Science Center of Debrecen University has about 4000 employees. The authors adjusted a questionnaire with 45 questions and sent it to 525 randomly selected health care workers, 294 of whom responded (response rate, 56%). The Epiinfo software was used for statistical evaluation. Results: The respondents strongly agreed that the vaccine is free and easy to obtain at the workplace. Official recommendations of the occupational health, the Medical Association of Hungary and advice of the family doctors failed to influence the decision. However, a significant impact of communication with family members, friends and colleagues on the decision was documented. Conclusions: The results indicate that the most important tool in decision making of influenza vaccination is the internal communication, but this effect is not a permanent one. International data show highly variable vaccination rates (between 2.1% and 82%). A better vaccination rate (98% or above) may be achieved with a mandatory influenza vaccination program among health care workers. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 505–513.

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Influenza immunization among Tunisian health care workers in the 2018-2019 influenza season

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1434 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

I Cherif ◽

G Kharroubi ◽

L Bouabid ◽

A Gharbi ◽

A Boukthir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Influenza Immunization ◽

Knowledge And Attitudes ◽

Care Workers

Abstract Background Given the nature of their activities, health care workers (hcws) are at higher risk of contracting influenza and transmitting the disease to their patients. Influenza vaccine (IV) remains the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. To the best of our knowledge, no national data on IV coverage among hcws is available in Tunisia. The present study aimed to assess the flu vaccination coverage among Tunisian hcws in the 2018-2019 influenza season and factors associated with IV uptake through a study of knowledge and attitudes related to influenza vaccination. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted in Tunisian primary and secondary health care facilities from March to May 2019. Hcws with direct patient contact were recruited according to a self-weighted multistage sampling. Survey data collection was based on a face to face questionnaire containing both open and closed questions. Results A total of 1231 hcws were enrolled in this study. Among respondents, 15.3% (95% CI: [12.3-17.2]) were vaccinated against influenza during the 2018-2019 influenza season. High confidence regarding vaccine efficacy (OR = 3.5, 95%CI: 2.5-4.8), belief that hcws' influenza immunization may decrease illness and deaths among patients (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.3) and belief that influenza vaccination can reduce work absenteeism (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.4) were associated with a higher IV uptake among hcws. In addition, participants who mentioned hcws as a target group for influenza vaccination (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.5-2.8) and who were agree that IV is indicated annually for hcws (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.9-4.9) were more likely to receive the IV. Conclusions Influenza vaccination coverage among Tunisian health professionals in 2018-2019 was low. Our findings suggest that knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza vaccine influence vaccine compliance among hcws and should thus be targeted by vaccination campaigns to promote flu vaccine uptake in the health community. Key messages Vaccination coverage among Tunisian healthcare workers was low in the 2018-2019 influenza season. Our findings suggest that knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza vaccine influence vaccine uptake among Tunisian health care workers.

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COVID-19 vaccination rates among health care workers by immigrant background. A nation-wide registry study from Norway

10.1101/2021.09.17.21263619 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kristian Bandlien Kraft ◽

Ingeborg Elgersma ◽

Trude Marie Lyngstad ◽

Petter Elstrøm ◽

Kjetil Telle

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Vaccination Rate ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Full Time ◽

Country Of Birth ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Immigrant Background ◽

Care Workers

AbstractBackgroundStudies have suggested that some minority groups tend to have lower vaccination rates than the overall population. This study aims to examine COVID-19 vaccination rates among health care workers (HCWs) in Norway, according to immigrant background.MethodsWe used individual-level, nation-wide registry data from Norway to identify all HCWs employed full-time at 1 December 2020. We examined the relationship between country of birth and COVID-19 vaccination from December 2020 to August 2021, both crude and adjusted for e.g. age, sex, municipality of residence, and detailed occupation codes in logistic regression models.ResultsAmong all HCWs in Norway, immigrants had a 9 percentage point lower vaccination rate (85%) than HCWs without an immigrant background (94%) at 31 August 2021. The overall vaccination rate varied by country of birth, with immigrants born in Russia (71%), Serbia (72%), Lithuania (72%), Romania (75%), Poland (76%), Eritrea (77%), and Somalia (78%) having the lowest crude vaccination rates. When we adjusted for demographics and detailed occupational codes, immigrant groups that more often worked as health care assistants, such as immigrants from Eritrea and Somalia, increased their vaccination rates.ConclusionSubstantial differences in vaccination rates among immigrant groups employed in the health care sector in Norway indicate that measures to improve vaccine uptake should focus specific immigrant groups rather than all immigrants together. Lower vaccination rates in some immigrant groups appears to be largely driven by the occupational composition, suggesting that some of the differences in vaccine rates can be attributed to variation in vaccine access.

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