Healthcare workers' attitudes toward influenza vaccine prescriptions in China

Vaccine prescription is being implemented and applied in China to bolster promote vaccination campaigns and mitigate vaccine hesitancy. This study aims to investigate the current vaccine recommendation practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) in China and identify the determinants that influence their willingness to provide vaccination prescription, informing interventions to support the implementation of willingness into practice.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCWs nationwide in China from July 3 to July 10, 2024. The survey questionnaire was distributed via a link provided by an expert-listening platform at the 2024 World Influenza Conference, representing a diverse group across different healthcare institutions. The study used descriptive and logistic regression analyses performed on attitudes toward providing influenza vaccination prescriptions.

Among 3140 responding HCWs, 68.8% of hospital-based HCWs (N = 778/1131) and 61.9% of community-based HCWs (N = 1243/2009) demonstrate a willingness to provide vaccine prescriptions. HCWs with a history of influenza vaccination (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.39, P < 0.001) were significantly more inclined to provide vaccine prescriptions. Incentives including bonus rewards (aOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.40-2.43, P < 0.001), and integration into annual/monthly performance evaluations (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.20-2.13, P = 0.001) further enhanced willingness to provide prescriptions. In terms of communication methods, 63.4% of HCWs (N = 1991) identified official public account promotions on WeChat as the most effective for raising vaccination awareness, significantly surpassing provide vaccine prescriptions (8.7%, N = 350).

Our study emphasizes the necessity for further evaluations of vaccine prescription policies to improve the implementation among HCWs. The findings advocate for tailored strategies, including enhanced incentive mechanisms in hospital settings and optimized digital engagement in community health centers, to facilitate effective vaccine prescription practices.