Knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers about influenza: why are they not getting vaccinated?

Abstract

In a survey of employees at a chronic care psychiatric facility following an influenza outbreak, previous influenza vaccination (relative risk [RR], 69.7; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 25.2 to 192.4), age > or = 50 years (RR, 2.4; CI95, 1.3 to 4.5), and knowledge that vaccine does not cause influenza (RR, 2.3; CI95, 1.3 to 3.7) were the factors most predictive of current influenza vaccination. Medical personnel were less likely than nonmedical employees to be vaccinated (RR, 0.5; CI95, 0.3 to 0.9). Educational efforts to address misconceptions about vaccination plus more vigorous administrative measures to vaccinate employees should be considered.