An Internet-Based Survey of Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Healthcare Workers in China, 2018/2019 Season.

Haitao Liu,Muli Zhang,Ying Qin,Jiandong Zheng,Mo Hao,Yayun Tan,Zhongjie Li,Zhibin Peng,Luzhao Feng,Junhua Yao,Fen Pang,Wenjing Duan,Teng Ma,Zhiqiang Guo

doi:10.3390/vaccines8010006

Abstract

Influenza vaccination coverage was low among healthcare workers (HCWs) in China. In October 2018, the National Health Commission of China began to require all hospitals to provide free influenza vaccination for HCWs to increase vaccine uptake, and no study on vaccine coverage among HCWs at the national level after the announcement of new policy. This evaluation aims to investigate self-reported influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs and factors that may affect vaccine receipt during the 2018/2019 influenza season. We delivered an opt-in internet panel survey among registered HCWs of DXY forum (the biggest online forum for HCWs in China). The survey was self-administered using a standard questionnaire to collect information on demographics, occupational characteristics, policy implementation, influenza vaccination and influence factors. We conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess factors associated with receipt of influenza vaccine. The response rate of this online survey was 3.6%. The seasonal influenza vaccine coverage reported among HCWs surveyed during the 2018/2019 season was 11.6% (472/4078). Only 19.0% (774/4078) of HCWs surveyed reported free policy in their workplace. Combing free policy and workplace requirement proved to be effective to improve influenza vaccination coverage in HCWs (PR = 6.90, 95% CI: 6.03–7.65). The influenza vaccination coverage among surveyed HCWs in China was low during the 2018/2019 season. To increase future vaccination uptake, we recommend a multi-faceted strategy that include free policy, workplace requirement and promotion, on-site vaccination, and monitoring.

Highlights

Seasonal influenza is estimated to cause 88,100 respiratory deaths annually in China [1]
This study reported that influenza vaccination uptake of healthcare workers (HCWs) was significantly associated with being provided with free vaccination (PR = 3.67, 95% CI: 3.07–4.35) by workplace
Our study reported that influenza vaccination uptake of HCWs was significantly associated with workplace requirement (PR = 3.21, 95% CI: 2.48–4.04) or promotion for influenza vaccination (PR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.43–2.14) by workplace

Summary

Introduction

Seasonal influenza is estimated to cause 88,100 respiratory deaths annually in China [1]. Influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza infection [2], vaccination coverage in China was estimated to be 1.5–2.2% among the general population during 2004 and 2014 [3]. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are one of the recommended groups for influenza vaccination because of their risk of getting infected and vaccination of HCWs significantly reduced influenza-like illness and all-cause mortality among patients, as well as number of working days saved [4,5]. Influenza vaccine is generally paid for out-of-pocket in China and there is no immunization program for influenza nationally. The status of the implementation of this policy and its effect on influenza vaccination coverage is unknown. We aimed to investigate the 2018/2019 influenza vaccination coverage, factors associated with influenza vaccination, including workplace vaccination policies, and reasons for influenza vaccine receipt or non-receipt among HCWs

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