Attitudes and beliefs to seasonal influenza vaccination among junior doctors and the impact of a targeted campaign on vaccine uptake

Abstract

The Department of Health recommends that health care workers (HCWs) with direct patient contact are vaccinated against seasonal influenza. A survey of acute hospital NHS trusts in 2008 reported that doctors had the lowest vaccine uptake of all HCWs. At the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, vaccination coverage in doctors was 7% in 2007/2008 and only 2% in foundation year 1 (F1) doctors. During this year (2008/2009), as part of a programme to improve uptake, we carried out a questionnaire survey among junior doctors to assess barriers to vaccination. We targeted F1 doctors by organising vaccination sessions at the same time and location as two mandatory training days. Fifty-four questionnaires were analysed. 68.5% of foundation doctors were in favour of vaccination of HCWs and 3.7% opposed it. 50% believed vaccination to be a professional responsibility; 46.3% believed it should be mandatory. Greater accessibility of vaccination, peer pressure and the example of seniors were viewed to be the most important factors in improving uptake. In 2008/2009 uptake of influenza immunisation in F1 doctors rose to 62% (31/50) from 2% in 2007/2008. Among F2 doctors (who had no vaccination sessions at training days) there was a 16% (9/56) uptake. Among foundation doctors in our Trust, most favour vaccination; barriers appear to be related to accessibility. By arranging vaccination sessions at training days, we dramatically increased uptake. We believe that increasing accessibility and peer pressure and senior example contributed to this effect.