Influenza vaccination rates and motivators among healthcare worker groups.

Background: The rate of influenza vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) is approximately 40%. Differences in vaccination rates among HCW groups and reasons for accepting or rejecting vaccination are poorly understood.

Objectives: To determine vaccination rates and motivators among different HCW groups during the 2004-2005 influenza season.

Design: Cross-sectional survey conducted between July 10 and September 30, 2005.

Setting: Two tertiary care teaching hospitals in an urban center.

Participants: Physicians, nurses, nursing aides, and other staff. Surveys were collected from 1,042 HCWs (response rate, 42%).

Results: Sixty-nine percent of physicians (n=282) and 63% of medical students (n=145) were vaccinated, compared with 46% of nurses (n=336), 42% of nursing aides (n=135), and 29% of administrative personnel (n=144). Physicians and medical students were significantly more likely to be vaccinated than all other groups (P<.0001). Pediatricians (84%) were more likely than internists (69%) and surgeons (43%) to be vaccinated (P<.0001). Among the HCWs who were vaccinated, 33.4% received the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) and 66.6% received trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). Vaccinated HCWs were less likely than unvaccinated HCWs to report an influenza-like illness (P=.03). Vaccination with LAIV resulted in fewer episodes of influenza-like illness than did receiving no vaccine (P=.03). The most common reason for rejecting vaccination was a concern about availability. Understanding that HCWs may transmit the virus to patients correlated with vaccine acceptance (P=.0004).

Conclusions: Significant differences in vaccination exist among physician specialties and employee groups, and there are inadequate vaccination rates among those with the greatest amount of patient contact, potentially providing a basis for group-specific interventions.