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Influenza Vaccination Compliance Among Health Care Workers in a German University Hospital

  • Clinical and Epidemiological Study
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Abstract

Background:

Since 1988, the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, has explicitly recommended that health-care workers (HCWs) should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza. However, acceptance of the influenza vaccination by medical personnel is low.

Methods:

This study analyzes factors associated with the compliance of HCWs with the seasonal influenza vaccination on the basis of three different anonymized questionnaires during two consecutive influenza seasons: 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. The questionnaires covered details of demographics, frequency of previous vaccinations, reasons for accepting or declining the vaccination, and the HCW’s knowledge of the influenza vaccine and influenza itself.

Results:

Our study showed that physicians were significantly more likely to have been vaccinated than nurses (38.8% vs 17.4%; p < 0.0001). The main reasons for noncompliance included: supposition of a low risk of infection, fear of side effects, the belief that the influenza vaccine might trigger the influenza virus infection, and scepticism about the effectiveness of the influenza vaccination.

Conclusion:

Our findings confirm the importance of a comprehensive approach to the vaccination, ensuring that HCWs are correctly informed about the vaccine and that it is convenient to receive it.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Occupational Health Service, University Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    S. Wicker

  2. Institute of Medical Virology and Travel Vaccination Centre, University Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40, 60596, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    S. Wicker, H. F. Rabenau, H. W. Doerr & R. Allwinn

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  1. S. Wicker
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  2. H. F. Rabenau
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  3. H. W. Doerr
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  4. R. Allwinn
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Correspondence to R. Allwinn.

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Wicker, S., Rabenau, H.F., Doerr, H.W. et al. Influenza Vaccination Compliance Among Health Care Workers in a German University Hospital. Infection 37, 197–202 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-008-8200-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-008-8200-2

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