Abstract
ABSTRACT Background: The Belgian Superior Health Council recommends seasonal influenza vaccination for people working in the health care sector in order to reduce the risk of the influenza virus being transmitted to people at risk. The aim of this study is to provide more insight into the current vaccination rate in nurses and health care professionals in emergency services in Flanders. In addition, the influence of influenza vaccination on absenteeism will be investigated, as well as the motivation to get vaccinated or not. Methods: A quantitative multicentre, cross-sectional study was carried out in which nurses and health care professionals in emergency services in Flanders were questioned by means of an online questionnaire. Results: The survey of nurses and health care professionals in Flanders from 2018 shows that 54% (294/548) gets vaccinated in this year. Respondents who have been vaccinated report a lower absenteeism due to influenza compared to health workers who do not get vaccinated. There is a lack of general knowledge about influenza and vaccination. Thirty-four percent of nurses and health care professionals in emergencies do not know the correct definition of influenza. The main reasons for being vaccinated are: to protect oneself (27%), family members (21.5%) and patients (16%). Reasons for not getting vaccinated are: never having had the influenza before (30%), believing you get the influenza because of the vaccination (12%), no belief or trust in the vaccine (19%). Three percent of respondents who received the influenza vaccine were absent due to flu. The absence due to influenza was higher among the respondents who were not vaccinated, namely 11%. Being vaccinated for influenza or not has been associated with being absent for influenza. Conclusions: Given that there is a lack of general knowledge about influenza and its vaccination, the vaccination campaigns should cover this knowledge gap. Efforts to convince both nursing and care professionals about the protective role of the Influenza vaccine. These efforts can improve the influenza vaccination coverage rate and consequently minimize the absenteeism. Abbreviations: WHO: World Health Organization; UZA: University Hospital of Antwerp; SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
Highlights
The Belgian Superior Health Council recommends seasonal in uenza vaccination for people working in the health care sector in order to reduce the risk of the in uenza virus being transmitted to people at risk
– Knowledge about u and vaccination is lacking with these health workers
The risk of infection is greatest in the emergency department, because nurses and health care professionals are more likely to come into contact with patients who have not received a de nitive diagnosis
Summary
The Belgian Superior Health Council recommends seasonal in uenza vaccination for people working in the health care sector in order to reduce the risk of the in uenza virus being transmitted to people at risk. Healthcare workers are much more likely to come into contact and be infected with the u virus than the average healthy adult [2] This chance obviously depends on the severity of the epidemic and the department where health workers work. Not every exposure leads to an effective infection, it is estimated that one in four health workers could be infected during a mild in uenza season. This is much higher than the 10% in the general population [3]
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