Encuesta sobre la vacunación de adultos en España. Gripe y neumococo

Abstract

Influenza vaccination coverage in groups in whom it is indicated is a pending assignment in most European countries and the role of health care workers in raising it is fundamental. We made a descriptive cross-sectional study by means of 336 interviews with health care workers throughout Spain and 80 interviews with patients between January and March 2012. The main objectives were to determine the reasons for vaccination or not in health care workers and the general population, to identify the perceived benefits of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and to determine the type of patients in whom vaccination was recommended. Most health care workers agreed it was necessary to raise vaccination coverage in the population. The main reasons why health care workers decided to receive influenza and pneumococcal vaccination were belonging to a risk group (59% and 65%, respectively) and self-protection (53% and 29%, respectively). Reasons for not vaccinating included not considering themselves as a person of risk/lack of concern about infection (37% and 92%). Reasons for not vaccinating against influenza also included laziness (13%) and lack of time (10%). Most patients were vaccinated and their main concern was possible adverse effects, which were expressed more in the nurses’ visit than in the medical visit. Patient's reasons for not vaccinating were related to the perceived lack of risk of infection. Health care workers reported an increase in patients and colleagues worried about arguments against vaccination. Scientific documents supported by the health authorities and scientific bodies were considered as highly valuable instruments that favoured an increase in vaccination coverage.