Analysis of the best strategies to promote flu vaccination coverage among healthcare professionals

Abstract

ObjectiveThe flu represents a major public health issue. The flu vaccination rate among healthcare professionals has traditionally been lower than recommended by national health authorities, and there is also regional heterogeneity. The objective of the Gripetool project was to identify the most effective initiatives to promote influenza vaccination in Spain among healthcare workers. Material and methodsInformation was obtained through an online survey conducted among members of the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN) between July and November 2020, which had been previously validated by a committee of experts. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to analyse the possible relationship between the vaccination coverage of health professionals and the different promotion measures reported in the survey. ResultsAccording to respondents (n = 385), the publication of vaccination recommendations (18.6%), the use of media and social networks (14.4%), and the active recruitment through email/letters (10.6%) are the most effective measures to increase vaccination rates. According to the statistical analysis, there are 10 measures that have a positive impact on the vaccination rate, the most relevant include the distribution of posters in health centres (17 percentage points increase, pp), the publication of vaccination recommendations (14 pp), and the development of protocols and guidelines (13 pp). ConclusionsThe most effective strategies to increase influenza vaccination comprehend actions at macro-, meso-, and micro levels to promote vaccination and communicate its benefits, exploiting the potential of new technologies.