PO-0174 Attitudes Of Paediatric Health Care Workers Towards Influenza Vaccination In Qatar

Abstract

Background Influenza is a communicable but preventable viral illness; despite safe, effective vaccine availability compliance rates are globally low, there is no Local data on percentage and reasons for poor compliance among paediatric health workers in Qatar. Aims To estimate the percentage of vaccinated health care providers at paediatrics department and their attitudes towards influenza vaccination. Methods Cross-sectional Survey was conducted from November 2012 till April 2013 among 90 physicians and 133 allied health at main tertiary teaching hospital, included details of demographics, frequency, perceptions and suggestive ways to improve the compliance. Results Our study showed that percentage of flu vaccination (68.3%) with (31.7%) were not vaccinated, nurses were significantly more likely to be vaccinated than doctors (45.7% vs 40.6%), overall (71.7%) of responders will recommend it to colleagues and patients compared to (28.3%) will not, main reasons for noncompliance included: fear of side effects, contracting the flu, vaccine safety and lack of proper information about the effectiveness. to promote uptake participants believe that offer an evidence based statement ensuring safety, effectiveness is a practical intervention to be used along with providing no cost on site campaigns. Conclusions Poor compliance and low acceptance of influenza vaccination by paediatric health care workers had negative impact on our children immunisation rate perception that medical provider had not recommended it, they appear to have many of the same misconceptions about influenza vaccine, findings will be useful to used for urgent action to design and implement education programs to improve vaccination rate.