Autor: |
Rabaan AA; Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia., Wyse R; The Cure Parkinson's Trust, London, UK., Al-Tawfiq JA; Specialty Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA., Alahmed SH; Specialty Paediatric Medicine, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif, Saudi Arabia., Aljeldah MM; College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hafr Albatin, Hafr Albatin, Saudi Arabia., Bazzi AM; Microbiology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia., Asseri AM; Department of Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Binjomah AZ; Riyadh Regional Laboratory and Blood Bank, Mycobacteriology Reference Laboratory, Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Street, Ulaishah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Haque S; Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. |
Abstrakt: |
The aim of this study was to gauge the reasons for accepting or declining influenza vaccine in healthcare staff in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was administered to healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. In all, 633 respondents who provided gender, nationality and profession were included. Reasons for vaccine uptake or refusal were assessed according to profession and educational level. Uptake of vaccine was lower in the period from 2010 to 2014 (3-13.3%) compared to pre-2010 figures (20.7%), rising to 44.1% in 2015. Comparing data for 'never having been vaccinated' to 'being vaccinated in 2015', there was no significant difference in distribution between nurses (9.27% v 38.8%), physicians (13.9% v 56.0%) and laboratory technicians (15.9% v 33.5%) (p= 0.08). The top reason for vaccination was protection of self and family, while the top reason for refusal was not considering the vaccine to be necessary. Education level had no significant effect on the likelihood of being vaccinated. Improvement of healthcare worker vaccination levels in Saudi Arabia might be achieved by addressing staff concerns on vaccine safety and efficacy, emphasizing the potential dangers of influenza and capitalizing on the staff's focus on protecting themselves and their families. |