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[Influenza vaccination of pediatric staff as a predictor for recommendations to children]
Zachi Grossman1, Matitiahu Berkovitch, Rony Braunstein
1Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel. zgrosman@netvision.net.il
Insights
Pediatric staff vaccination against influenza, including the 2009 H1N1 strain, strongly correlates with their recommendation of these vaccines to children. Educating providers is key to increasing pediatric influenza vaccine uptake.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Context:
- The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic caused significant global mortality.
- Health care worker (HCW) vaccination rates for seasonal and pandemic influenza have historically been low.
- Previous studies indicated a link between HCW vaccination status and their recommendations to adult patients.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between pediatric staff's self-reported influenza vaccination status and their vaccine recommendations to pediatric patients.
- To assess attitudes and practices regarding seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination among pediatric healthcare professionals.
Summary:
- A survey of 141 pediatric staff revealed that 72% were vaccinated or intended to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza, and 62% for 2009 H1N1 influenza.
- Vaccination status was a significant independent predictor for recommending universal influenza vaccination to children.
- Staff in ambulatory settings were more likely to recommend seasonal influenza vaccines to all children.
Impact:
- Findings underscore the critical role of provider vaccination in influencing parental vaccine acceptance.
- Highlights the need for targeted educational initiatives for healthcare professionals to improve pediatric influenza immunization rates.
- Suggests that demonstrating personal commitment to vaccination can enhance patient and family trust and adherence to public health recommendations.
Background:
As of February 2010, the 2009 H1N1 influenza has caused more than 15,000 deaths worldwide. Seasonal influenza vaccination rates among health care workers (HCW) have been universally low; the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination of HCW has also been disappointing. In several studies, a correlation between HCW seasonal influenza vaccination status and vaccine recommendation to adult patients was found.
Objective:
To examine the correlation between the declared influenza vaccination status of pediatric staff and vaccine recommendations to their patients.
Instrument:
Anonymous questionnaire concerning attitudes and practices regarding seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination.
Respondents:
141 pediatric staff attending a conference.
Results:
Seventy two percent of the respondents had been or intended to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza, 62% against the 2009 H1N1 influenza, and 56% against both diseases. Ambulatory setting employment was positively associated with the recommendation of seasonal influenza vaccination to all children. By multivariate Logistic regression analysis, the "vaccinated or intending to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza" was the only significant independent variable associated with recommending universal pediatric seasonal influenza vaccine (OR=15, 95% CI 6.1-41.4, p < 0.001). Similarly, "being or intending to be vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 influenza" was the only significant independent variable associated with recommending universal pediatric vaccination against this disease (OR = 5.2, 95% CI 1.85-14.6, P = 0.002).
Conclusion:
A strong correlation between the influenza vaccination status of pediatric staff and the recommendation of the vaccines to children emphasizes that intense education of providers is a crucial step in assuring a positive recommendation to families.
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