Nationwide Survey on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination among Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece: Determinants, Barriers and Peculiarities.
Ioanna Avakian: Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 12 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larissa, Greece. ORCID
Katerina Dadouli: Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 12 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larissa, Greece. ORCID
Lemonia Anagnostopoulos: Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 12 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larissa, Greece.
Konstantinos Fotiadis: Hmathia General Hospital, Veria Hospital Unit, 59132 Veria, Greece. ORCID
Athanasios Lianos: Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 12 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larissa, Greece.
Paraskevi Mina: Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 12 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larissa, Greece.
Christos Hadjichristodoulou: Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 12 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larissa, Greece. ORCID
Varvara A Mouchtouri: Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 12 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larissa, Greece. ORCID
BACKGROUND: Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) of health care workers (HCWs) is critical in protecting patients' and HCWs' health. Our objective was to examine HCW SIV coverage and related determinants. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among HCWs during the first half of 2021. The questionnaire (online or paper-based) included knowledge, attitude and practice questions regarding SIV, COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination. RESULTS: Out of 6500 questionnaires administered, 2592 were completed (response rate: 39.9%). SIV coverage reached 69.4% (95% CI: 67.6-71.2%) based on self-reported vaccine uptake. Nurses and administrative staff were found to be more skeptical and have lower vaccine acceptance in comparison with physicians (aOR = 0.66 and aQR = 0.59, respectively). Other SIV hesitancy risk factors included working in secondary health care (aOR = 0.59) and working in northern Greece (aQR = 0.66). Determinants for SIV acceptance included being or living with high-risk people due to medical history (aOR = 1.84 and aOR = 1.46, respectively), positive attitudes towards routine vaccinations (aOR: 1.86), knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines (aOR = 1.53) and COVID-19 vaccine uptake (aOR = 3.45). The primary reason for SIV refusal was low risk perception (58.7%). CONCLUSIONS: SIV coverage (2020/2021) was relatively high, but remained far from formal recommendations. Specific occupational groups were skeptical and low-risk perception was the main reason for vaccine refusal. Targeted policies should be developed and enforced.
