Willingness of health care workers of various nationalities to accept H1N1 (2009) pandemic influenza A vaccination

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Media attention on 2009 H1N1 vaccination has been negative. Information on the willingness of health care workers (HCWs) to accept vaccination against the 2009 pandemic influenza is sparse. Thus, we undertook this study to investigate the attitude of HCWs toward this vaccine and possible factors associated with vaccine acceptance. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional observational study of HCWs conducted at Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization (SAMSO) in February 2009. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 250 individuals and 161 (64.4%) were completed. RESULTS: Of the total respondents, 66 (41%) were Arab, 55 (34.2%) were Asian/Far East, and 40 (24.8%) were of other nationalities. A total of 65 (40.4%) responses were from physicians and nurses, and 96 (59.6%) were from other HCWs. Of all the responders, 152 (94.4%) were aware of the H1N1 influenza situation, and 135 (83.9%) stated they had received enough information about the current situation. Of all the respondents, 59 (36.6%) stated that they received the seasonal influenza vaccination in 2008–2009, and 50 (31.1%) expressed their willingness to take the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. A total of 24 (14.9%) stated that the vaccine contains thiomersal, 21 (13%) stated that the vaccine contains adjuvants, 19 (11.8%) stated it contains squalene, 17 (10.6%) thought the vaccine causes infertility, and 29 (18%) thought the vaccine causes Guillain-Barré syndrome. In a multivariate analysis, the following factors were noted to be important in choosing to be vaccinated: being Asian, not being a doctor or a nurse, and previous acceptance of the seasonal influenza vaccine (P≤.01). CONCLUSIONS: The acceptance of the current 2009 pandemic H1N1 vaccine was low. Important factors associated with the increasing H1N1 influenza vaccine acceptance include being Asian, not being a doctor or a nurse, and previous acceptance of the seasonal influenza vaccine.