Attitudes,
beliefs and practice of Egyptian healthcare workers towards seasonal influenza
vaccination
Sally
Adel Hakim (1), Wagdy Amin (2), Mohamed Farouk Allam (1,3), Asmaa M. Fathy (4),
Amira Mohsen (5)
1.
Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of
Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
2.
Ministry of Health and Population, Chest Directorate, National Tuberculosis
Control Program, Cairo, Egypt.
3.
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University,
Cairo, Egypt.
4.
Community Medicine Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
5.
World Health Organization Country Office, Cairo, Egypt.
Influenza and Other
Respiratory Viruses 2021;00:1-11 [First Published: 11 June 2021].
DOI:
10.1111/irv.12868
Abstract
Background: Seasonal
influenza vaccination is highly recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs) every
year to protect them and reduce the risk of disease transmission at workplaces.
Relatively few studies addressed influenza vaccination in the Eastern
Mediterranean Region. Objectives:
The main objective of this study was to explore the attitudes, beliefs and
practice of Egyptian HCWs towards seasonal influenza vaccine. Methods: This is a nationwide
cross-sectional study. Data were collected through self-administered structured
questionnaire. A sample of 3534 HCWs (physicians and nurses) was collected from
different levels of healthcare facilities. Results:
The proportion of seasonal influenza vaccine uptake during the last season was
30.7% while the percentage of ever vaccinated was 46.8%. The most identified
reason for non-compliance was lack of trust about vaccine efficacy and its
adverse events. Around 80% of participants expressed positive attitude towards
influenza vaccine and the vast majority (98%) agreed to uptake the vaccine
during pandemic. There was significant positive association between attitude
score and influenza vaccine uptake. Raising awareness about vaccine and
ensuring vaccine availability were the main suggestions by HCWs to improve
vaccine uptake. Conclusions:
Although there was positive attitude towards influenza vaccine, yet vaccination
coverage was suboptimal particularly among those working in university
hospitals. Educational messages and operational strategies addressing
motivators and barriers that emerged from this study are needed to optimize
vaccine uptake.
KEYWORDS: attitude,
belief, cross sectional study, Egypt, healthcare workers, influenza
vaccination, practice.
Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 2021;00:1-11 [First Published: 11 June 2021].
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/irv.12868
