The impact of COVID‐19 on hospital‐based workers influenza vaccination uptake: A two‐year retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at exploring 2020/2021 and 2019/2020 seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among healthcare and non‐healthcare workers, hereafter hospital‐based workers (HBWs); examining attitudes and motivations for uptake in the 2020/2021 season; and exploring the amount, types, and sources of information used by HBWs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study. Socio‐demographics, working profile, working area, and vaccination status data were collected. Motivations for vaccination uptake in the 2020/2021 season were also explored. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. RESULTS: Overall, uptake increased from 14.8% in 2019/2020 to 31.7% in 2020/2021. Male workers show greater vaccination uptake than their female counterparts (20.4% vs. 12.6% in 2019/2020, and 36.5% vs. 29.8% in 2020/2021). Uptake increased for healthcare assistants (+8.9%), administrative/managerial staff (+17%), nurses/midwives (+17.1%), non‐medical graduate staff (+22.8%), and physicians (+33.2%), while it decreased slightly for resident physicians despite still being one of the most vaccinated categories (−4.6%). Main reasons for vaccination were the desire to protect patients (33.0%) and relatives (51.1%). Lastly, 60.8% of HBWs relied on institutional sources of information; the remainder relied on non‐institutional sources including social media and chatting with colleagues. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination uptake increased in the 2020/21 season. Tailored educational interventions are required on the impact of influenza in care settings, vaccine efficacy, and vaccination safety. Investments in improving HBWs' reliance on institutional sources, and their ability to find them, are also needed.