Pediatr Infect Vaccine.  2019 Dec;26(3):170-178. 10.14776/piv.2019.26.e21.

Non-Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Rates among Healthcare Workers during the 2017–2018 Influenza Season: a Multicenter Study in Korea

• Kang JM
• Lee J
• Park YS
• Park Y
• Kwak YG
• Song JE
• Choi YJ

• KMID: 2466461
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2019.26.e21

Abstract

PURPOSE
Annual influenza vaccination is the best strategy to prevent healthcare-associated influenza transmission. Influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers (HCWs) vary by country, region, and year. We investigated the influenza vaccination rates for HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in South Korea, where a non-mandatory vaccination campaign was conducted.
METHODS
We retrospectively investigated factors affecting the influenza vaccination rate among HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in three tertiary hospitals in Goyang City, where the non-mandatory influenza vaccination program is conducted.
RESULTS
Consequently, 6,994 of 7,180 HCWs (97%) were included, and the overall vaccination rate was 85%. Nurses had the highest rate with 92%, followed by health technicians (88%), physicians (84%), and non-medical HCWs (79%, P<0.001). Vaccination rates differed, depending on the frequency of contact with patients in the non-medical HCWs (frequent contact vs. less-frequent contact; 90% vs. 73%, P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The influenza vaccination rate among HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in Korea was 85%, which is among the highest rates compared with previously reported non-mandatory vaccination rates in other countries. The vaccination rate may vary depending on the HCW's occupational characteristics, including the extent of contact with the patient. Therefore, a multifaceted strategy is needed to increase the vaccination rate of HCWs.

Keyword

Healthcare workers; Influenza vaccine; Mass vaccination; Korea; Healthcare worker-patient transmission

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care*
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient
Influenza Vaccines
Influenza, Human*
Korea*
Mass Vaccination
Retrospective Studies
Seasons*
Tertiary Care Centers
Vaccination*
Influenza Vaccines

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Selection of study population. Abbreviation: HCW, healthcare worker.

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  Fig. 2 Different influenza vaccination rate according to occupational subgroup. (A) Physicians, (B) Nurses, and (C) Non-medical HCWs. Abbreviation: HCW, healthcare worker.

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