Uptake of influenza vaccine by healthcare workers in an acute hospital in Ireland.

Healthcare workers are recommended to receive influenza vaccination. The aims of this study were to assess the uptake of the influenza vaccine by healthcare workers in an acute hospital setting and ascertain factors as to why health care workers availed of the vaccine or not. The vaccine was available free of charge and the times when and the locations where the vaccine was available were well advertised. A questionnaire was distributed to a presenting sample of 300 healthcare workers at the end of December 2001 when the campaign was completed. A total of 228 (76.0%) responded. Almost two-thirds, 146(64.0%), had seen the notices about the availability of the vaccine and 175(76.8%) were aware that the vaccine was available free of charge. Forty (17.5%) received the vaccine. Professionals allied to medicine were more likely to have been vaccinated than other healthcare workers, whilst nurses were less likely to be vaccinated. The most common factors associated with not getting vaccinated were that the healthcare workers did not consider themselves at high risk and a fear of side effects of the vaccine. Nurses were more likely than other staff to cite side effects of the vaccine as a reason for not getting vaccinated (p < 0.03). A third of those who did not get the vaccine stated that they would consider getting the vaccine the following year compared to 26(65.0%) of those who got it in the current year. The main reason for getting the vaccine was to avoid influenza infection. If high uptake rates of influenza vaccine are to be achieved in healthcare workers creative and enduring methods will have to be employed.