Quality in Primary Care Open Access

Acceptance of mandatory vaccination policy for seasonal influenza vaccine among healthcare workers at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia

7^th Edition of International Conference on Family Medicine & Primary Care

February 22-24, 2018 Paris, France

Hassan Kasim Haridi

Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

Keynote: Quality in Primary Care

Abstract:

Background: Influenza vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) is essential for patient safety and their own safety. Nosocomial influenza outbreak can result in staff absences, disrupt health services and increase healthcare costs. Owing to the lower rates of vaccine uptake among HCWs, despite efforts to reach good vaccination coverage and considering the high vulnerability of pilgrim patients using healthcare facilities during Hajj seasons, Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia, recently adopted mandatory vaccination policy for HCWs in all healthcare facilities in Makkah and Madinah to reach an acceptable level of vaccination. This paper aims to assess acceptance of mandatory influenza vaccination policy among HCWs and factors independently affecting their acceptance or non-acceptance. Methodology: A cross sectional survey was carried out during October 1-16, 2015, among HCWs at the King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to assess the uptake of influenza vaccine and to examine potential predictors of acceptance and non-acceptance of mandatory influenza vaccination policy among HCWs. Results: Out of 500 HCWs approached, 447 returned valid selfreported questionnaires with a response rate of 89.4%. Overall, 88.3% of the participants reported receiving vaccination during the 2014-2015 season, higher than 2013-2014 season (61.2%) and 2012-2013 (54.5%) season before adopting mandatory vaccination for HCWs. Better knowledge of HCWs about influenza disease and influenza vaccine (OR:4.03; 95%CI 1.878.68; p<0.001), and agreement of the healthcare workers to recommend the vaccine to the target groups (OR:5.55; 95% CI 2.56-12.03; p<0.001), independently predicted acceptance of HCWs to mandatory influenza vaccination. On the other hand, concern about the vaccine efficacy (OR:0.29; 95% CI 0.10-0.86; p=0.025) and older age (OR:0.95; 95% CI 0.91-0.99; p=0.016), independently predicted the non-acceptance attitude. Conclusion: Our study revealed high acceptances of mandatory influenza vaccination policy among HCWs. Awareness programs are essential to clarify evidence-based facts and correct misconceptions about the vaccine. Non-accepting staff of the mandatory policy were less knowledgeable and more likely of not recommending the vaccine to the target groups with its worse consequences. Based on the large effect size, high acceptance and minimal contradiction, we recommend the extension of mandatory vaccination policy to other health care facilities.

Biography :

Dr. Hassan Kasim Haridi completed his Doctorate degree from Ain Shams University, Cairo and postdoctoral studies in infection control and hospital epidemiology from the same university. He is a Consultant Public Health Medicine physician, the Head of Research Department, Health Affairs, Hail region, Saudi Arabia. He has more than 20 publications and being a reviewer/ editorial board member for a number of reputed journals. He has many participations of research work presented at national and international conferences. He has managed programs in infection control, primary health care, community health projects for disease screening/early detection, clinical and community research as well as medical staff education/training.