Flu Vaccination Promotion among Italian Health Workers

The aim of this work is to promote flu vaccination among health workers employed at the University Hospital of Sassari, Italy. An ad hoc questionnaire was administered to a sample of 457 health workers, and the data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis (i.e. multivariate logistic regression). The results obtained were useful in implementing vaccination strategies to increase flu vaccination coverage.
The main findings of the survey showed that the respondents had a greater propensity to flu vaccination if doctors (Odds Ratio - OR - (Confidence Interval - CI - 95%) = 2.6 (1.3-5.2); p = 0.007), and in favour of mandatory flu vaccination for their professional category (OR (CI95%) = 3.0 (1.3-6.9); p = 0.011. On the other hand, the health workers who had not received flu vaccination in the 2018-2019 season were those who: i) belonged to the Surgical Area (OR (CI95%) = 0.4 (0.2-0.8); p = 0.010); ii) spent more time in contact with patients (OR (CI95%) = 0.7 (0.6-0.9); p = 0.005); iii) declared difficulties in accessing vaccination (OR (CI95%) = 0.3 (0.2-0.7); p 0 0.002).
The results of our study were useful to implement vaccination strategies. In particular, the direct provision of vaccination in the ward was implemented in order to overcome the difficulties of access to the service manifested by the respondents. This strategy allowed to double up the vaccination coverage among the health personnel.
Furthermore, the survey points out the need to plan educational and informative interventions aimed at changing the attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge of health workers in the field of vaccination, for the purpose of protecting the health of healthcare personnel and their patients.