Attitudes towards influenza and uptake of the flu vaccine: A survey of pharmacy staff working in English hospitals

ObjectivesPharmacy staff working in hospitals are at risk of contracting and disseminating influenza. Previous research focuses on community pharmacists’ attitudes towards influenza and vaccination. This survey investigates the beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists and other pharmacy staff working in English Hospitals regarding influenza and the vaccine and how this relates to vaccine uptake.MethodsA self-administered survey was provided to pharmacy staff at three hospitals in the East Midlands of England. Job role, age and vaccination status (vaccinated, intended to be vaccinated, and not vaccinated) were collected alongside ratings of agreement with 20 statements regarding influenza and vaccination using a Likert scale.Results170 pharmacy staff responded; 50.6% had been vaccinated, 17.1% intended to be vaccinated and 32.4% were not vaccinated. Increasing age showed a significant (p = 0.017) positive correlation with increased vaccine uptake as did the beliefs that vaccination protects the individual from influenza (p = 0.049) and that vaccination should be mandatory for NHS staff (p = 0.006). Fear of needles and believing their immune system is strong enough to protect against influenza were negatively correlated with vaccine uptake (p = 0.016 and p = 0.010, respectively). Job role was also strongly correlated with vaccine uptake (p = 0.001), with those holding a pharmacy degree more likely to report being vaccinated or intending to be vaccinated compared to all other pharmacy staff groups.ConclusionsThis is the first survey to focus on vaccine behaviours of all pharmacy staff groups working in hospitals. Current uptake of the influenza vaccine may be increased through engagement of senior pharmacy colleagues and providing education on influenza, vaccines, and vaccination. Similar studies should be undertaken on a larger scale to fully interrogate the differences between pharmacy staff groups.     

The role of parental attitudes and provider discussions in uptake of adolescent vaccines

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental vaccine attitudes, the number of specific vaccines discussed with a provider, and immunization outcomes including discussing immunization with their teen, knowledge of adolescent vaccine schedule, and their son or daughter being up-to-date on recommended vaccines using a nationally weight sample. Parents completed an internet-based survey between December 2012 and January 2013 and we computed a vaccine attitude scale (higher scores indicating stronger and more positive attitudes toward vaccination of teen) for each parent and categorized them into one of three groups: low (n = 76), medium (n = 207) or high (n = 215). We also constructed a vaccine discussion scale representing the number of vaccines discussed with their adolescent's physician. Parents who were identified as having high vaccine attitudes were significantly more likely to report their physician talked with them about a particular vaccine. Using logistic regression and controlling for respondent's gender and age, income, and teen's gender, we found medium as compared to low-attitude parents had a 6.21 (95%CI = 3.08, 12.51) greater odds of reporting that their teen had all recommended vaccines. Similarly, high as compared to low-attitude parents reported a 23.02 (95% CI = 11.27, 46.99) greater odds of having a teen who was up-to-date on recommended vaccines. We detected that for each additional vaccine discussed, there was a 1.24 (95%CI = 1.11, 1.39) increase in odds of the teen having all recommended vaccines. Parental immunization attitudes and provider discussion about vaccines are key ingredients to improving immunization rates among adolescents. While some parents may be reluctant to immunize their son or daughter with a recommended vaccine, vaccine-specific discussions between physicians and parents represent an important first step to continued discussions with providers regarding vaccination. Moreover, vaccine discussions must occur within the context of ongoing conversations about health and disease prevention.     

Influenza vaccination in the time of COVID-19: A national U.S. survey of adults

IntroductionDecisions about influenza vaccination for fall-winter 2020 were made against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. During May 2020, the authors examined intended vaccination in the next 12 months in relationship to demographic variables, healthcare attitudes, and personal COVID-19 experiences for two samples of adults--those who did not receive influenza vaccine during the prior 12 months, and those who did.MethodsIn May 2020, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted with a national US sample. Participants reported prior influenza vaccination (yes/no during prior 12 months) and anticipated vaccination (yes/no during next 12 months). Covariates included demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, race-ethnicity, political ideology), general beliefs (e.g., benefits of vaccines, altruistic attitudes), and COVID-19 health beliefs and experiences (COVID-19 worry and severity, perception of COVID-19 as a community threat, knowing someone with COVID-19). For each group, hierarchical multivariable logistic regression was conducted with intent to vaccinate as the outcome.ResultsAmong participants (n = 3502), 47% did not receive influenza vaccine in the prior 12 months and 53% had; 25.5% of non-vaccinators and 91.9% of vaccinators intended future vaccination. For non-vaccinators, odds of intending vaccination was associated with race/ethnicity (Hispanics were more likely to intend than white-NH; AOR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.23–2.4), greater perceived benefits of vaccination (AOR = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.88–2.54), and perception of COVID-19 as a community threat (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.49–2.45). For vaccinators, odds of intending vaccination was associated with age (AOR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.03–1.05), race/ethnicity (Black-NH and Other-NH were less likely to intend than white-NH, AOR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.36–0.999; and AOR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.24–0.84, respectively), greater perceived benefits of vaccination (AOR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.45–2.45) and greater perception of collective benefits of vaccines (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.15–1.90).ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic may have served as a cue to action for influenza vaccination intention among some prior non-vaccinators whereas intention among prior vaccinators is more related to positive attitudes toward vaccination.     

The continuum of influenza vaccine hesitancy among nursing professionals in Hong Kong

IntroductionInfluenza vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers poses challenges to the achievement of herd immunity and causes infection risks to vulnerable patients. This study aimed to quantify the extent of influenza vaccine hesitancy among nurses in Hong Kong, to delineate its pattern, and to explore its socio-demographic, professional and personal correlates.MethodNurses in Hong Kong were recruited in a cross-sectional study involving the administration of an online questionnaire survey after the 2017/18 winter influenza season. Respondents’ influenza vaccination behaviours, attitudes and psychological antecedents were assessed, followed by their delineation into subgroups along the hesitancy continuum through a combination of multiple correspondence analysis and K-means cluster analysis. Socio-demographic, professional and personal correlations of subgrouping were investigated using generalised ordered logistic regression.ResultsThe overall vaccination coverage of nurses for the 2017/18 influenza season was 44%. Five clusters were differentiated by the level of influenza vaccine hesitancy: “Very high hesitancy-to-complete refusal” (n = 56; 7%) characterised by outright refusal of vaccination; “High hesitancy” (n = 171; 23%) distinguished by tendency of skipping vaccination and scepticism about safety of vaccine; “Moderate hesitancy” (n = 273; 36%) with uncertainties towards vaccination, mistrust of the government’s vaccine recommendations and priority concern on affordability of vaccine; “Low hesitancy” (n = 95; 13%) with cautious acceptance towards vaccination and “No-to-minimal hesitancy” (n = 158; 21%) with strong vaccine confidence and compliance greatly linked to convenience of vaccine access. Nurses having completed at least 3 years’ pre-registration professional training, having most family members vaccinated against influenza, and with influenza vaccination history during studentship were less vaccine hesitant.ConclusionWith more than half of the nurses in Hong Kong having moderate or higher level of influenza vaccine hesitancy, interventions customised to the needs of nurses as reflected from the characteristics of clusters along the vaccine hesitancy continuum could form an important strategy for improving vaccination uptake.     

Parental perceptions of childhood seasonal influenza vaccination in Singapore: A cross-sectional survey

PurposeSeasonal influenza vaccination is recommended in children aged 6–59 months, but little is known about child vaccination coverage and determinants in Asian settings. We report the results of a survey of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and determinants of child influenza vaccination in Singapore.MethodsIn December 2015-March 2016, we conducted a survey of 332 parents of children aged 6 months to 5 years attending pre-schools. We assessed child influenza vaccine coverage and parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices of child influenza vaccination. We used multivariable regression and structural equation models to identify factors associated with child influenza vaccination.ResultsKnowledge about influenza, perceived benefit of vaccination, and willingness to vaccinate were high. However, only 32% of children had ever received influenza vaccine, and only 15% in the past year. Factors independently associated with child influenza vaccination included: being recommended influenza vaccine by a child’s doctor (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.75–3.48); receiving influenza vaccine information from a private general practitioner (PR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.05–2.04); regularly receiving pre-travel influenza vaccine (PR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.19–2.25); higher willingness to vaccinate (PR = 1.58, 95% CI:1.24–2.04 per unit increase in willingness score); and feeling well-informed about influenza vaccine (PR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.04–1.99). Parents who obtained influenza vaccine information from television were less likely to have vaccinated their child (PR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23–0.85). Path analysis indicated that being recommended vaccination by a child's doctor increased willingness to vaccinate and self-efficacy (feeling well-informed about influenza vaccine). Median willingness-to-pay for a dose of influenza vaccine was SGD30 (interquartile range: SGD20-SGD50), and was higher in parents of vaccinated compared with unvaccinated children (SGD45 vs SGD30, p = 0.0012).ConclusionKnowledge and willingness to vaccinate was high in this parent population, but influenza vaccine uptake in children was low. Encouraging medical professionals to recommend vaccination of eligible children is key to improving uptake.     

Cross-sectional survey: Risk-averse French general practitioners are more favorable toward influenza vaccination

ObjectivesWe tested the following hypotheses: (i) risk-averse general practitioners (GPs) are more likely to be vaccinated against influenza; (ii) and risk-averse GPs recommend influenza vaccination more often to their patients. In risk-averse GPs, the perceived benefits of the vaccine and/or the perceived risks of the infectious disease might indeed outweigh the perceived risks of the vaccine.Patients/MethodsIn 2010–2012, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a nationwide French representative sample of 1136 GPs. Multivariate analyses adjusted for four stratification variables (age, gender, urban/suburban/rural practice location and annual patient consultations) and for GPs’ characteristics (group/solo practice, and occasional practice of alternative medicine, e.g., homeopathy) looked for associations between their risk attitudes and self-reported vaccination behavior. Individual risk attitudes were expressed as a continuous variable, from 0 (risk-tolerant) to 10 (risk-averse).ResultsOverall, 69% of GPs reported that they were very favorable toward vaccination in general. Self-reported vaccination coverage was 78% for 2009/2010 seasonal influenza and 62% for A/H1N1 pandemic influenza. Most GPs (72%) reported recommending the pandemic influenza vaccination to at-risk young adults in 2009, but few than half (42%) to young adults not at risk. In multivariate analyses, risk-averse GPs were more often vaccinated against seasonal (marginal effect = 1.3%, P = 0.02) and pandemic influenza (marginal effect = 1.5%, P = 0.02). Risk-averse GPs recommended the pandemic influenza vaccination more often than their more risk-tolerant colleagues to patients without risk factors (marginal effect = 1.7%, P = 0.01), but not to their at-risk patients and were more favorable toward vaccination in general (marginal effect = 1.5%, P = 0.04).ConclusionIndividual risk attitudes may influence GPs’ practices regarding influenza vaccination, both for themselves and their patients. Our results suggest that risk-averse GPs may perceive the risks of influenza to outweigh the potential risks related to the vaccine.     

Survey of influenza vaccine knowledge,attitudes, and beliefs among pregnant women in the 2016–17 season

ObjectivesInfluenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women in the United States is suboptimal. We surveyed women who were pregnant during the 2016–17 influenza season to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza vaccination.MethodsWe identified and sampled pregnant women to include approximately equal numbers of vaccinated and unvaccinated women from strata defined by vaccination status and trimester from four integrated health systems in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). Potential participants were contacted via mail and telephone to complete a standardized survey. Characteristics and responses of women vaccinated and unvaccinated during pregnancy were compared.ResultsThe survey was completed by 510 (48%) of 1062 contacted women; 500 were included in the analysis. Vaccine receipt while pregnant was associated with primigravida status (p = 0.02), college degree (p = 0.01), employment in health care (p < 0.01), and history of routine annual influenza vaccination (p < 0.01). Among 330 vaccinated women, the primary reasons for vaccination included protection of self and baby from influenza (n = 233, 71%), and medical professional recommendation (n = 46, 14%). Multiple reasons were given for nonvaccination, but concern about ‘negative effects’ was cited most often (n = 44, 29%). Vaccinated women were significantly more likely to believe that influenza vaccines are safe and effective, and to recognize the potential for harm from influenza infection. Nearly all women reported receiving at least one influenza vaccination recommendation from a healthcare provider.ConclusionsVaccinated pregnant women were more likely to receive routine annual influenza vaccine compared to those not vaccinated. Recommendations by obstetric providers should be supplemented with efforts to encourage women of childbearing age to receive annual vaccination.     

Knowledge and attitudes towards influenza and influenza vaccination among pregnant women in Kenya

BackgroundInfluenza vaccination during pregnancy benefits mothers and children. Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries have no official influenza vaccination policies to date but are moving towards issuing such policies. Understanding determinants of influenza vaccine uptake during pregnancy in these settings is important to inform policy decisions and vaccination rollout.MethodsWe interviewed a convenience sample of women at antenatal care facilities in four counties (Nairobi, Mombasa, Marsabit, Siaya) in Kenya. We described knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza vaccination and assessed factors associated with willingness to receive influenza vaccine.ResultsWe enrolled 507 pregnant women, median age was 26 years (range 15–43). Almost half (n = 240) had primary or no education. Overall, 369 (72.8%) women had heard of influenza. Among those, 288 (78.1%) believed that a pregnant woman would be protected if vaccinated, 252 (68.3%) thought it was safe to receive a vaccine while pregnant, and 223 (60.4%) believed a baby would be protected if mother was vaccinated. If given opportunity, 309 (83.7%) pregnant women were willing to receive the vaccine. Factors associated with willingness to receive influenza vaccine were mothers’ belief in protective effect (OR 3.87; 95% CI 1.56, 9.59) and safety (OR 5.32; 95% CI 2.35, 12.01) of influenza vaccines during pregnancy.ConclusionApproximately one third of pregnant women interviewed had never heard of influenza. Willingness to receive influenza vaccine was high among women who had heard about influenza. If the Kenyan government recommends influenza vaccine for pregnant women, mitigation of safety concerns and education on the benefits of vaccination could be the most effective strategies to improve vaccine acceptance.     

Effect of educational and financial incentive-based interventions on immunization attitudes,beliefs, intentions and receipt among close contacts of pregnant women

IntroductionCocooning, the vaccination of close contacts of a newborn, is a strategy to limit the risk of pertussis and influenza infection among vulnerable infants.MethodsPregnant women in Colorado and Georgia referred close contacts to an app that provided tailored educational videos about vaccines along with a small pharmacy-based financial incentive for vaccine receipt. The primary objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of implementing this app-based cocooning intervention.ResultsTwo hundred seventy seven contacts were enrolled in this study. Of those who received the educational videos, 96% found them interesting, 100% found them clear to understand, 97% found them helpful, and 99% trusted them. Completion of the videos led to significant increases in influenza vaccine knowledge (p = 0.025), Tdap vaccine knowledge (p < 0.001), and intention to receive these vaccines (p = 0.046). Of the 136 participants who reported receiving influenza vaccine, 41 (30%) reported receiving it at a pharmacy, and of the 66 who reported receiving Tdap vaccine, 15 (23%) reported receiving it at a pharmacy. Of all participants, 80% reported being comfortable receiving vaccines at a pharmacy instead of a doctor’s office. The provision of small pharmacy-based financial incentives combined with individually-tailored educational videos about vaccines led to 6.97 (95%CI: 2.25–21.64) times higher odds of self-reported receipt of influenza vaccine than providing small pharmacy-based financial incentives without these videos. No significant difference was found for Tdap vaccine.ConclusionsTailored vaccine education can positively impact vaccine knowledge and intentions among adults. An app-based referral program providing education and financial incentives for cocooning vaccination at pharmacies is feasible.     

Attitudes of parents towards influenza vaccine in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A multilevel analysis

BackgroundSeasonal influenza vaccines (SIVs) can protect against influenza and substantially reduce the risk of influenza-related hospitalizations and fatalities in children. This study aimed to assess parental attitudes towards SIVs in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR).MethodsThrough an anonymous online survey conducted in 19 countries in the EMR, parents or caregivers over 18 years who had at least one child above 6 months filled out the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines questionnaire. As data had two levels; country and individual factors, we utilized multilevel binary logistic regression models.ResultsIn total, 6992 respondents filled out the questionnaire. Of them, 47.4 % were residents of middle-income countries, 72.4 % of the mothers were between 26 and 45 years old, 56.5 % had at least a university degree, and approximately 51.6 % were unemployed. Nearly 50.8 % of the respondents were hesitant to vaccinate their children against seasonal influenza. Parental attitudes towards seasonal influenza vaccination differed significantly between countries, p < 0.001. The main predictors of parental seasonal influenza vaccine hesitancy (VH) were parents vaccination (odds ratio (OR) = 0.42, 95 % CI = 0.32–0.55, p < 0.001)), the mother's education if mother educated vs. who did not receive any education (OR ranged from 0.48 to 0.64, p < 0.05), living in low-income countries (OR = 0.52, 95 % CI = 0.35–0.77, p < 0.01), mountain residence (0.69, 95 % CI = 0.49–0.99, p < 0.05), health workers as a source of information (OR = 0.70, 95 % CI = 0.58–0.85, p < 0.001), children vaccination against COVID-19 (OR = 0.52, 95 % CI = 0.41–0.65, p < 0.001), not receiving routine vaccinations (OR = 1.93, 95 % CI = 1.09–3.44, p = 0.025), and if parents respondents could not remember whether their child had suffered from seasonal influenza in the previous year (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI = 1.33–1.84, p < 0.001).ConclusionA high seasonal influenza VH rate was found in the EMR. Health authorities should implement different interventions targeting the identified modifiable risk factor to increase vaccine uptake among children, especially those at risk of complication from seasonal influenza infection.     

Using classification and regression tree analysis to explore parental influenza vaccine decisions

Background and objectivesInfluenza poses a public health threat for children and adults. The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for children <18 years, yet vaccine uptake remains low for children (57.9%) and adults (37.1%). Given that parental decision-making is key in childhood vaccine uptake, there is a critical need to understand vaccine hesitancy among parents who decide not to vaccinate their children. This study aims to explore predictors of children’s influenza vaccine status given parental vaccination status and examine the factors that contribute to concordance or discordance between parental and children’s vaccine uptake.MethodsClassification and regression tree (CART) analyses were used to identify drivers of parental decisions to vaccinate their children against influenza. Hierarchy and interactions of these variables in predicting children’s vaccination status were explored.ResultsFrom a nationally representative sample of non-Hispanic Black and White parents who completed an online survey (n = 328), the main factors influencing parents’ decisions to vaccinate their children were vaccine behavior following physician recommendation, knowledge of influenza recommendations for children, influenza vaccine confidence and disease risk. Among unvaccinated parents, the greatest concordance was observed among parents who usually do not get vaccinated following physician recommendation and had lower knowledge of recommendations for influenza vaccination for children. The greatest discordance was observed among unvaccinated parents who had lower hesitancy about recommended vaccines.ConclusionsUnderstanding drivers of parental decisions to vaccinate themselves and their children can provide insights on health communication and provider approaches to increase influenza vaccine coverage and prevent influenza related mortality.     

Factors associated with caregivers’ hesitancy to vaccinate children against influenza: A cross-sectional survey in China

BackgroundSeasonal influenza can cause serious harm to children under five years of age, while caregivers are still hesitant to vaccinate children against influenza. This study aimed to investigate caregivers’ hesitancy regarding influenza vaccination and assess the associated factors.MethodsFrom August to October 2019, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in ten provinces in China. The questionnaire collected information about sociodemographic characteristics and caregivers’ knowledge, perceptions and attitudes toward influenza vaccination. Caregivers were identified as not hesitating, hesitating or refusing to vaccinate children. Multinomial logistic regression was adopted to determine factors related to vaccine hesitancy based on the 3C model with three dimensions namely complacency, convenience and confidence.ResultsA total of 6668 valid questionnaires were collected, among which 38.57% did not hesitate to vaccinate children against influenza, 56.03% were hesitant, and 5.40% refused. Multinomial logistic regression showed that caregivers perceiving high importance (AOR = 0.68 for hesitancy; 0.15 for refusal), safety (AOR = 0.42; 0.46) or efficacy (AOR = 0.73; 0.65) of influenza vaccination, knowing children as a priority group (AOR = 0.80; 0.48), and trusting vaccination advice from medical staff (AOR = 0.65; 0.51) had lower odds of hesitancy or refusal. Those considering price as a hindering factor had higher odds of hesitancy (AOR = 1.66) or refusal (AOR = 1.47), and those viewing time or distance as a hindering factor (AOR = 1.45) or having heard of vaccine-related negative information (AOR = 1.78) had higher odds of hesitancy. Sociodemographic characteristics were associated with vaccine hesitancy or refusal, and the associations varied for hesitators and refusers.ConclusionA large proportion of caregivers in China reported their hesitancy for influenza vaccination, and the associated factors of such hesitancy were complicated. Health professionals are recommended to spread relevant scientific knowledge and give vaccine-related suggestions to caregivers in doctor visits to promote caregivers’ trust in influenza vaccination and therefore expand childhood vaccine coverage.     

Influenza vaccination hesitancy and its determinants among elderly in China: A national cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe Chinese elderly face a significant threat from seasonal influenza, owing to the consistently low vaccination coverage. This study investigated the prevalence and determinants of influenza vaccination hesitancy among the Chinese elderly.MethodsIn 2019, 3849 elderly individuals from 10 provinces in China were recruited in a cross-sectional survey. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to investigate the determinants of influenza vaccination hesitancy.ResultsAmong the elderly respondents, 37.18% expressed some degree of hesitancy towards influenza vaccination: 19.28% were hesitant, and 17.90% refused influenza vaccination, including 19.28% acceptors with doubts and 17.90% refusers. Only 39.10% of the respondents considered themselves as the priority group for influenza vaccination, and 13.93% reported receiving a recommendation for vaccination from healthcare workers. Respondents with higher education levels and from urban areas had significantly higher odds of vaccine hesitancy than their counterparts. Confidence in the safety of vaccines was negatively associated with vaccine hesitancy, but confidence in vaccine efficacy had no such association. Respondents who perceived themselves as highly susceptible to influenza (AOR = 0.85; 95 %CI = 0.77–0.93) and those aware of the elderly as a priority group for influenza vaccination (AOR = 0.51; 95 %CI = 0.41–0.64) had a significantly lower odds of being refusers.ConclusionThis study found a high prevalence of hesitancy towards influenza vaccination among the Chinese elderly, especially well-educated and urban-dwelling respondents. The government should address vaccine hesitancy through culturally appropriate communication, subsidies for vaccination, and actively promoting vaccines through primary care professionals.     

Attitudes and Communication Preferences for Vaccines among Pregnant Women Receiving Care at a Safety-net Hospital

ObjectiveWe aimed to understand pregnant women's perceptions of vaccination during pregnancy and to assess their reaction to different vaccine messages.Study DesignEnglish-speaking pregnant women aged 18 years or older who received prenatal care at a safety-net hospital participated in qualitative interviews. Interview topics included attitudes toward vaccinations in general and toward influenza and tetanus–diphtheria–pertussis vaccination in pregnancy. Participants were also queried regarding sources of vaccine information, and were asked to provide feedback on specific messages regarding maternal vaccination.ResultsTwenty-eight pregnant women participated in interviews. Participant age ranged from 18 to 40 years old; 64% were insured through Medicaid. All participants had positive attitudes toward routine vaccinations and had received vaccinations for themselves and their children. Attitudes were less favorable for influenza vaccines than other vaccines. Participants reported receiving vaccine information from multiple sources. Stories about vaccine harms worried participants, even when they did not trust the sources of negative information. All stated that their health care providers were the most trusted source of information. Participants felt that the most important messages to encourage maternal vaccination were that maternal vaccination protects the baby after birth and maternal vaccination is safe for both mother and baby. Participants were not motivated to vaccinate by messages about the severity of maternal disease.ConclusionsMaternal vaccinations are important to protect pregnant women and infants from influenza and pertussis. Focusing on messages related to vaccine safety and protection of the infant are motivating to mothers, especially when delivered by trusted health care providers.     

Sociodemographic and psychological correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in the young adult population in Italy

BackgroundPrevious research has shown that young adults are more hesitant/resistant to COVID-19 vaccine uptake than older age groups, although the factors underlying this tendency are still under debate. The current study aimed to identify the sociodemographic and psychological correlates of vaccine hesitancy and resistance among young adults (18–40 years) during the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Italy, the first country after China being hit by the pandemic and which suffered a large number of fatalities.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional, web-based study conducted in Italy using an ISO-certified international survey company (respondi.com). Data were collected on 1200 participants in June 2021.ResultsVaccine hesitancy/resistance was found for 25% of the sample. In multinomial logistic regression (N = 1159), being aged 30–40 years, residing in northern Italy, having lower educational and income level, being unemployed, and not knowing any friends/relatives diagnosed with COVID-19 were associated with higher odds of hesitancy or resistance. In multivariate analysis of variance (N = 1177), both vaccine hesitant and resistant young adults perceived significantly less social support from friends and family than vaccine accepting ones. Resistant individuals reported significantly higher levels of conspiracy theories and negative attitudes toward vaccines than their accepting and hesitant counterparts. Moreover, resistant individuals reported significantly lower levels of attachment to country and perceptions of a just government compared to accepting ones, with hesitant young adults scoring in between.ConclusionsOur findings support the idea that young adults with a hesitant (vs. resistant) attitude show a more nuanced and less extreme psychological profile. Public health messaging should capitalize on social media to provide accessible, transparent, and age-appropriate information concerning COVID-19 vaccine safety. Moreover, policy efforts improving the availability of social support systems are warranted to strengthen connectedness and foster trust in institutions amongst this particular segment of the population.     

Knowledge,attitudes, and practices regarding seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy in Costa Rica: A mixed-methods study

BackgroundInfluenza increases stillbirth risk, morbidity and mortality in pregnant women. Vaccination protects pregnant women against severe disease and indirectly protects their infants, but coverage among pregnant women remains low worldwide. We aimed to describe knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding seasonal influenza vaccination among postpartum women and prenatal care physicians in Costa Rica.MethodsWe conducted cross-sectional KAP surveys to women one to three days after childbirth at Costa Rican Social Security Fund maternity hospitals, and obstetricians and general practitioners who provided prenatal care in 2017. Principal components analysis, multiple imputation, and logistic regression were used to examine associations between influenza vaccination and demographics, prenatal care, and sources of information—separately for postpartum women and physicians. We also held two focus groups of six healthcare workers each to further describe vaccination KAP.ResultsWe surveyed 642 postpartum women and 146 physicians in maternity hospitals in five Costa Rican provinces of whom 85.5 % (95 % CI: 82.6 %-88.0 %) and 57.9 % (95 % CI: 49.6 %-65.7 %) were vaccinated for influenza, respectively. Factors associated with influenza vaccination for postpartum women included tetanus vaccination (aOR: 3.62, 95 % CI: 1.89–6.92); received vaccination recommendations from clinicians during prenatal check-ups (aOR: 3.39, 95 % CI: 2.06–5.59); had other children in household vaccinated for influenza (aOR: 2.25, 95 % CI: 1.08–4.68); and secondary/university education (aOR: 0.15–0.31) with no formal education as reference. For postpartum women, reasons for vaccination were perceived benefits for mother and infant, whereas not being offered vaccines was most cited for non-vaccination. Most prenatal care physicians recommended influenza vaccines during prenatal check-ups but believed vaccination causes flu-like symptoms.ConclusionVaccination campaigns and provisions of free vaccines effectively increased knowledge and coverage among women in Costa Rica. To improve access, women should be offered vaccines during prenatal care appointments. Educating healthcare workers about vaccine benefits for themselves and patients is needed to mitigate safety concerns.     

A community-based survey on influenza and vaccination knowledge,perceptions and practices in Peru

BackgroundAlthough Peru provides safe and effective influenza vaccines free-of-charge, coverage among vaccine target groups like pregnant women and older adults remains low. To improve risk communication messages and vaccine uptake, we explored knowledge, perceptions and practices about influenza illness and vaccination.MethodsA cross-sectional, community-based survey with a three-stage cluster sampling design was conducted in three cities in Peru. We included mothers of young children, pregnant women and persons ≥65 years. Participants completed a questionnaire about knowledge, perceptions and practices about influenza illness and vaccination against influenza during the past year. Generalized linear models were used to explore factors associated with vaccination in the past year.Results624/645 (97%) mothers, 54/55 (98%) pregnant women and 622/673 (92%) older adults approached provided informed consent and were surveyed. While most mothers, pregnant women and older adults (94%, 96% and 91%, respectively) perceived influenza as a potentially serious illness, few pregnant women (13%) and older adults (34%) self-identified themselves as a target group for influenza vaccination. Only 28% of mothers, 19% pregnant women, and 27% older adults were vaccinated against influenza during the previous year. Among the participants that did not get vaccinated against influenza in the previous year, “being afraid of vaccination and its effects” was the most commonly cited barrier. Knowledge of the recommendation for annual vaccination was significantly associated with vaccination status among pregnant women (p = 0.048) and older adults (p = 0.004).ConclusionDespite a government subsidized vaccine program, vaccine utilization remained low among pregnant women and older adults, who seemed typically unaware of their status as high-risk groups targeted for vaccination. Those aware of the recommendations for annual vaccination were more likely to be vaccinated. Information campaigns addressing fears and highlighting populations at risk for severe influenza illness that are targeted for vaccination might increase vaccine coverage in Peru.     

Investigating the association of receipt of seasonal influenza vaccine with occurrence of anesthesia/paresthesia and severe headaches,Canada 2012/13–2016/17, the Canadian Vaccine Safety Network

BackgroundConcern about adverse events following immunization is frequently cited by both those who receive or decline vaccines. Neurological adverse events are especially concerning.ObjectivesOur aim was to detect associations between seasonal influenza vaccination and the occurrence of severe anesthesia/paresthesia or severe headaches.MethodsData were analyzed from the Canadian National Vaccine Safety network. Events occuring on days 0–7 were self-reported and prevented daily activity, led to school or work absenteeism, or required medical attention. Controls were the previous year’s vaccinees; events in controls were collected prior to the start of the influenza vaccination program of each year (2012/13 through 2016/17). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between seasonal influenza vaccination and the occurrence of anesthesia/paresthesia or severe headaches.ResultsThe total sample was 107,565 for investigating anesthesia/paresthesia and 97,420 for investigating severe headaches. Anesthesia/paresthesia was reported by 104/107,565 (0.10%) participants; 63/69,129 (0.09%) vaccinees and 41/38,436 (0.11%) controls (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.60, 1.32). Severe headaches were reported by 1361/97,420 (1.40%) participants; 907/61,463 (1.48%) vaccinees and 454/35,957 (1.26%) controls (aOR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.08, 1.36). No specific vaccine product was associated with severe headaches.ConclusionsOur study found no association between severe anesthesia/paresthesia and seasonal influenza vaccination. While there was an association with severe headaches as an adverse event following influenza vaccination, the rates of these events are similar to rates reported from clinical trials and are not a cause for additional concern.     

Vaccine hesitancy among hospital staff physicians: A cross-sectional survey in France in 2019

BackgroundHealthcare professionals, because they recommend vaccines to their patients, answer their questions, and vaccinate them, are the cornerstone of vaccination in France. They can nonetheless be affected by vaccine hesitancy (VH). Aims. We sought to study the opinions, practices, and perceptions of French hospital staff physicians (HSPs) toward vaccination and the prevalence and correlates of VH among them. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 14 public hospitals in France from September 2018 to October 2019. HSPs completed a standardized questionnaire –most of the time face-to-face — about their vaccine-related attitudes and practices. Data were weighted for age and sex. An agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis of the HSPs’ perceptions and opinions toward vaccination allowed us to identify vaccine-hesitant HSPs, and multiple Poisson regression with robust standard errors let us study the factors associated with VH. Results. The study included 1,795 HSPs (participation rate: 86%). Almost all (93.7%) were strongly favorable to vaccination, even though 42.2% (95CI = 39.8–44.6) showed moderate VH. VH prevalence was lowest among infectious disease specialists (12.3%; 95CI = 6.7–21.3) and pediatricians (27.7%; 95CI = 21.4–35.2). Hesitant HSPs were less trustful of vaccination information sources and doubted the safety of vaccines more often than HSPs with almost no VH. Compared with non-hesitant HSPs, those with higher VH had less often taken a medical course about vaccination and were less likely to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza, to recommend vaccines to their patients and to try to convince vaccine-hesitant patients to be vaccinated. Conclusions. Strong favorability to vaccination does not prevent VH, which was observed in most specialties. Interventions are required to help hesitant HSPs to adopt more proactive vaccination practices.     

Attitudes and perception of influenza vaccines among older people in Singapore: A qualitative study

BackgroundDespite recommendations for influenza vaccination of people aged 65 and above, uptake rate of influenza vaccines remains low.This study aims to understand barriers and motivators behind older adult’s decision on influenza vaccination.MethodsFace to face interviews with participants aged 65 and above were conducted and audio recorded in Geylang polyclinic in Singapore. Thematic content analysis was used to organise the data.Results15 older adults were interviewed, aged between 66 and 85 years old. 6 were vaccine refusers, 3 defaulters and 6 acceptors.A perceived lack of vulnerability, fear of side effects, and trivialisation of influenza were common reasons for not taking the vaccine. Encouragement from family and friends, travel and previous positive vaccination experiences were motivators for getting vaccinated. Healthcare workers played a role in influencing many of the participants’ decision-making. Common misconceptions included vaccines considered as necessary only before travel and as a cure rather than prevention. Most participants exhibited ambivalence, giving reasons both for and against vaccine uptake.DiscussionMost older adults do not perceive influenza as a potentially serious disease nor trust in influenza vaccines’ efficacy. Misconceptions played a significant role in vaccine decline. Novel findings include the importance of the family unit in decision making, prioritization of chronic health problems over vaccination and misconception that vaccines are only needed when travelling out of country. Healthcare workers and family members appear to be important influencers in the decision making of older adults and should be actively engaged in future health promotion initiatives.