Reasons For Vaccination Research Articles

Acceptance of seasonal and pandemic a (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccination by healthcare workers in a French Teaching Hospital

Introduction The aim of this study was to highlight the perceived risks, behavioural changes and the rate of acceptance of seasonal and pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccines by healthcare workers (HCWs) in a French Teaching Hospital. Methods We sampled HCWs from the Angers French Teaching Hospital (France) using a cross-sectional intercept design during phase 5A of the 2009 French National Plan for the Prevention and Control of ‘Pandemic Influenza’. From November 2009 to February 2010, HCWs were approached in the workplace to undertake the survey. The primary endpoint assessed immunization coverage among HCWs who had contact with at-risk-patients. Results Of the 532 HCWs who answered the questionnaire, 119 (22.4%) had received a seasonal vaccine and 194 (36.5%) the H1N1 pandemic vaccine. Coverage rate was significantly higher among physicians (45% for the seasonal vaccine, 61% for the H1N1 vaccine). The main reasons given for acceptance of the seasonal vaccine were “protection of the patient” and “self-protection”, whereas the main arguments against were “low risk of being infected” and “doubts about vaccine safety”. For the H1N1 vaccine, reasons for vaccination were to “protect the patient” and “protect the family”. The main arguments against were “fear of side effects” and “doubts about vaccine safety”. Conclusion This study emphasizes the lack of perception by HCWs of the importance of being immunized against seasonal and pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 Influenza. In the future, particular efforts are needed, during vaccination campaigns, to provide more information to HCWs regarding development process and safety of such vaccines.

Hepatitis B vaccination status among healthy adults in Germany

Objectives The hepatitis B vaccination policy in Germany was intensified by the implementation of hepatitis B vaccination for adolescents in the vaccination calendar in 1995. To investigate the effect of this measure on the hepatitis B vaccination coverage of healthy adults, we analysed the hepatitis B vaccination status of blood donors. Furthermore, the reasons for vaccination and the relationship between vaccination status and age, sex, and current profession were studied. Method Using a standardised questionnaire, randomly incoming whole blood donors were asked for hepatitis B vaccination status, the reason for vaccination, gender, age and current profession. Multiple logistic regression analysis with vaccination status as dependent variable and age, gender and current profession as explanatory variables was performed. Results Overall, 1519 (22.3%) of the 6812 interviewed whole blood donors were vaccinated against hepatitis B. Younger age was significantly associated with higher acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination with already 44.1% of whole blood donors aged 18–29 years being hepatitis B immunised. Beside health care workers, teaching professions and students showed the highest hepatitis B vaccination rate. Foreign travel was nearly an equivalently important reason for hepatitis B vaccination as occupational risks. Conclusion The high hepatitis B vaccination coverage among young and healthy adults indicates the success of the intensified hepatitis B vaccination policy since 1995. However, concentrating education measures on individuals with lower educational level and intensifying hepatitis B vaccination in the context of foreign travel could further increase the acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination.

A survey of parental knowledge of vaccination

Purpose:In this study, we created a questionnaire and collected answers concerning actual conditions of vaccination and parents' knowledge of vaccination issues, in order to find false knowledge of patients. We tried to give correct information and suggested the role of the pediatrician. Methods:We made questionnaires and collected answers from 466 parents from March 2004 to June 2004. Results:Places of vaccination were pediatric clinics(49.4 percent), health centers(27.7 percent), general/university hospitals(15.0 percent) and other clinics(4.9 percent). We found 38.8 percent of parents thought that the reason for vaccination at pediatric clinics was a belief of speciality, even though there is no difference in the vaccination itself. We also found 15.0 percent of parents thought that there were no differences between pediatricians and other physicians, but 52.0 percent of parents wanted to receive vaccination at pediatric clinics in the future. Our study also found that 62.4 percent of parents wanted to make out a preliminary questionnaire for vaccination. Many parents got vaccination information from vaccination record books(57.9 percent), and 52.6 percent of parents incorrectly believed that Hib vaccination could prevent all kinds of meningitis. Conclusion:Our study suggests that pediatricians need to make efforts to give out correct information. It is necessary to use preliminary questionnaires for vaccination and correct vaccination information should be written on the vaccination record book. Also, there needs to be counselling with parents about weaning, growth and development at the time of vaccination, and to point out the differences between pediatricians and other physicians.

Influenza monitoring in the Swiss Sentinel Surveillance Network

In Switzerland, the monitoring of influenza-like illness (ILI) is mainly performed by the Swiss Sentinel Surveillance Network, run by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (SFOPH), the University of Berne, and the National Centre of Influenza (NCI). In 2003, 240 general practitioners, physicians specialized in internal medicine, and pediatricians voluntarily reported weekly morbidity data—covering about 3.5% of consultations in primary health care. Reporting of ILI follows a case definition. Reports include data on age, sex, the presence of pneumonia, hospitalization, mortality, vaccination status, and therapy. Influenza immunization is also reported and includes data on sex, age, initiative, and reasons for vaccination. Samples for the subtyping of influenza viruses are sent to the National Reference Centre of Influenza. During the past 4 years, about 55% of the sentinel physicians have been conducting a near patient rapid test for the detection of Influenza A and B. For the past 10 winter seasons, the life span of influenza epidemics ranged from 4 to 13 weeks (average 9.9 weeks, median 10 weeks). At the peak of the epidemics, the number of ILI reports ranged from 3.23 to 9.26 cases per 100 medical contacts (MC) per week (average 5.91, median 5.58). The Swiss Sentinel Surveillance Network is an efficient instrument for monitoring influenza.

Post-secondary Students’ Perception of Flu Immunization

During the H1N1 pandemic, young adults and college students were noted to be susceptible to influenza. Despite the guidelines for post-secondary education issued by the Center for Disease Control and despite informative campaigns implemented by all institutions, young adults still show low immunization rates. This study aims to examine post-secondary students’ perspectives on influenza immunization. A short online questionnaire was designed. The questionnaire included questions about the participants’ age, gender and program of study. Participants were asked if they have recently received the vaccine or if they chose not to, and what were their reasons/views on flu immunization. The study received ethical clearance by St Lawrence College’s (SLC) Research Ethics Board and the online questionnaire was administered via a mass email to all SLC students across the three campuses. Of the 186 participants, 78% were females and 69% were between 18-24 years. 19% of participants reported to receive the vaccination on campus, 38% were vaccinated off-campus, while 43% did not receive the vaccine. The most commonly reported reasons for vaccination among students were being a program requirement (74%) and believing vaccine makes illness milder if they ever contracted the flu (11%). 37% of the non-vaccinating participants perceive the vaccine as unnecessary, while 12% believed that flu vaccine can make them ill. We conclude a significant percentage of students remain unvaccinated and may not view the flu vaccine as important. Misconceptions concerning the flu vaccine exist and providing more clear and accurate information may enhance flu immunization efficiency among students.