Poor health care worker vaccination coverage and knowledge of vaccination recommendations in a tertiary Australia...

Guidelines for vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) have been available in Victoria since 1998. We estimated knowledge and attitudes towards vaccination among HCWs as well as self-reported vaccination status in a tertiary adult hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2000 using a telephone questionnaire and proportionate random sampling.

Only 18% of 269 HCWs were fully vaccinated. Most (76%) had not heard of or seen current guidelines for HCW vaccination despite a stated belief in the importance of full vaccination (94%) and a willingness to update their vaccination status if necessary (96%). Less than half kept vaccination records (39%). Hepatitis B vaccination (95%) was most commonly completed. However, only half of all HCWs had received influenza vaccination in the past 12 months and other vaccines often had suboptimal coverage. A common reason cited for avoiding vaccination was concern over vaccine side effects (17%). While the hospital staff clinic was an acceptable site for vaccination, improved access was seen as important.

HCW vaccination coverage and knowledge of vaccination requirements were poor. Concerns about vaccine side effects were common.

Adequately resourced HCW vaccination programs that include ongoing education for HCWs and improved access to vaccination are necessary to improve vaccination coverage and reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases among staff and patients.