Compliance of Health Workers to H1N1 Vaccination

Abstract

Vaccination for pandemic influenza is considered to be one of the most important primary preventive measures to reduce the disease burden of H1N1. Healthcare workers have been identified “as a first priority” to be vaccinated against influenza A (H1N1) but there is paucity of data about knowledge, current status, willingness and factors associated with acceptance in Indian setting. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 76 healthcare workers in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Delhi. All doctors were aware of H1N1 whereas only 46% of other healthcare workers had heard about it. Television was the most popular source of information among all types of workers. All doctors and 86% of other healthcare workers had knowledge of the transmission of H1N1 infection. Only 32% doctors, 25% nurses and only 10% technicians had been trained on H1N1. Practice of getting vaccination was maximum among nurses (30%) followed by doctors (13%) and least among technicians and ward boys. Responding to why they had not received the vaccination, 42% of doctors considered the vaccine ineffective, 60% of the technicians thought that they did not need the vaccine. It is concluded that acceptance rate of H1N1 vaccination is low amongst healthcare workers. There is an immediate need for spreading correct awareness about the vaccine and its role in preventing H1N1 infection.