Vaccination coverage of general practitioners: a cross-sectional study from Greece.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• General Practice Medicine

Background:

• General practitioner (GP) vaccination coverage is crucial for protecting healthcare professionals and the general population.
• Understanding GP vaccination practices is essential for developing targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the vaccination coverage and practices of general practitioners (GPs) in Crete, Greece.
• To identify reasons for non-vaccination among GPs, particularly for influenza.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 294 practicing GPs in Crete.
• Vaccination status for influenza, measles, hepatitis B, and pertussis (Tdap booster) was assessed.
• Reasons for influenza non-vaccination and self-reported history of measles infection were recorded.

Main Results:

• A response rate of 88% (260 GPs) was achieved.
• Vaccination rates were 56% for influenza, 26% for measles, 68% for hepatitis B, and 18% for Tdap.
• Key reasons for influenza non-vaccination included negligence (47%) and perceived low risk (29.6%).
• GPs reporting natural measles infection had significantly lower vaccination rates (10% vs. 55%).
• A notable percentage of GPs (18%) falsely reported childhood Tdap vaccination.

Conclusions:

• This study highlights insufficient vaccination coverage and significant misconceptions among GPs in Crete.
• Addressing these issues through evidence-based interventions is critical for improving GP vaccination rates.
• Enhanced GP vaccination coverage can indirectly lead to improved vaccination rates within the general patient population.