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. 2017 Jul 7;17(1):634.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4556-5.

Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage and its determinants among nursing homes personnel in western France

Christelle Elias  1   2 , Anna Fournier  1   2 , Anca Vasiliu  1   2 , Nicolas Beix  1   2 , Rémi Demillac  1   3 , Hélène Tillaut  4 , Yvonnick Guillois  4 , Serge Eyebe  1   2 , Bastien Mollo  1   2 , Pascal Crépey  5   6   7
Affiliations

Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage and its determinants among nursing homes personnel in western France

Christelle Elias et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Influenza-associated deaths is an important risk for the elderly in nursing homes (NHs) worldwide. Vaccination coverage among residents is high but poorly effective due to immunosenescence. Hence, vaccination of personnel is an efficient way to protect residents. Our objective was to quantify the seasonal influenza vaccination (IV) coverage among NH for elderly workers and identify its determinants in France.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in March 2016 in a randomized sample of NHs of the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany, in western France. A standardized questionnaire was administered to a randomized sample of NH workers for face-to-face interviews. General data about the establishment was also collected.

Results: Among the 33 NHs surveyed, IV coverage for the 2015-2016 season among permanent workers was estimated at 20% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 15.3%-26.4%) ranging from 0% to 69% depending on the establishments surveyed. Moreover, IV was associated with having previously experienced a "severe" influenza episode in the past (Prevalence Ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.01-2.17), and varied by professional categories (p < 0.004) with better coverage among administrative staff. Better knowledge about influenza prevention tools was also correlated (p < 0.001) with a higher IV coverage. Individual perceptions of vaccination benefits had a significant influence on the IV coverage (p < 0.001). Although IV coverage did not reach a high rate, our study showed that personnel considered themselves sufficiently informed about IV.

Conclusions: IV coverage remains low in the NH worker population in Ille-et-Vilaine and also possibly in France. Strong variations of IV coverage among NHs suggest that management and working environment play an important role. To overcome vaccine "hesitancy", specific communication tools may be required to be adapted to the various NH professionals to improve influenza prevention.

Keywords: Cross-sectional study; France; Influenza vaccination; Nursing homes; Vaccination coverage.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

All participants have given their oral consent to participate to the study which had first been approved by the director of each participating nursing home. We consulted the legal and ethic department of Santé Publique France (the French National Agency for Public Health), who stated that the study falls under the definition of “non interventional” because it was “based exclusively on administering a questionnaire without any change in person care or in monitoring procedure”. Hence, they state that this kind of “observational” study did not require the approval of an ethic committee (CPP).

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

PC reports receipt of research funding from an influenza vaccine producer (Sanofi Pasteur) for studies on influenza vaccine effectiveness. CE, AF, AV, NB, SE, HT, YG, RD, and BM declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of the 33 nursing homes surveyed in the Ille-et-Vilaine department
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Study sample flow chart. *Late arrival or acute gastro enterities epidemic in NH. **We excluded three responders who were not matching inclusion cirteria
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Distribution of the nursing homes according to their rate of seasonal influenza vaccination
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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