Overview of the influenza vaccination activities and legal frameworks in 26 Swiss cantons during the influenza season 2019/20

Background In Switzerland, the implementation of national health and prevention strategies is regulated at the cantonal level. To date, no in-depth inventory outlining the cantonal health activities and legal frameworks for influenza vaccination exists. Objective To assess the activities and legal frameworks for influenza vaccination during the 2019/20 season across all 26 Swiss cantons. Method Survey using a structured closed-ended questionnaire. Results The activities’ range across the cantons is broad from 11 activities in the canton Vaud to one in cantons Grisons and Jura. French/Italian-speaking cantons conduct 1.5 times more influenza vaccination activities on average than the German-speaking cantons. 23 of 26 cantons authorize influenza vaccination by pharmacists. All cantons allow nurses to vaccinate under the responsibility of a doctor. Conclusion Influenza vaccination activities and vaccination-specific legal frameworks vary by canton and linguistic regions. Future vaccination strategies should consider concerted approaches to optimize their successful implementation

Peri-Pandemic Acceptance of Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination by Swiss Healthcare Workers in Primary Care 2020/21: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: To assess and compare influenza and COVID-19 vaccination uptake of Swiss healthcare workers (HCWs) in primary care 2020/21.Methods: Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination uptake and recommendation behaviours of HCWs in the primary care were assessed using an online semi-structured questionnaire. Associations between vaccination rates and age, language, gender, profession, vaccination history, vaccination training and recommendation behaviours were evaluated using descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2020/21 were 91.8% of the 1,237 participating HCWs, while 60.1% were vaccinated against influenza. Physicians and pharmacists presented the highest influenza vaccination rates (87.3%, 73.7%, respectively) compared to nurses (45.8%) and medical practice assistants (52.5%) while COVID-19 vaccination rates were high across all professions. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination rates were significantly associated with age, profession, vaccination history, vaccination training and recommendation behaviours. Conclusion: Acceptance for influenza vaccination has increased during the pandemic but is lower than that for COVID-19 among the HCWs. Demographics, vaccination status and vaccination training impact the vaccination behaviour among HCWs and should be considered in future campaigns to increase vaccination uptake

Influence of cantonal health policy frameworks & activities on the influenza vaccination rate in patients with non-communicable diseases in Switzerland

Background and objective Seasonal influenza may cause serious illness, especially in high-risk populations such as older adults and individuals suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCD) and may be prevented by a vaccination. However, an assessment of the impact of the Swiss legal frameworks and number of health activities on influenza vaccination coverage of the population at the cantonal level is lacking. Methods Two participating healthcare insurers sent out 25,000 semi-structured questionnaires to their subscribers aged 60–85 in five Swiss cantons selected according to the number of health activities and legal framework regarding influenza vaccination and linguistic region. Influenza vaccination coverage of the participants was evaluated and stratified by disease status, age, canton, and linguistic region. Results were compared by cantonal activities, legal framework, and linguistic region. Results 7,617 valid questionnaires were evaluated from the cantons Aargau, Jura, St. Gallen, Schwyz, and Vaud. 47.9 % stated to have an NCD, with the most frequent being muscle/ skeletal disease (36.7%). Before 2018, 48.6% were vaccinated against influenza, and 35.9% in 2019, with the highest in canton Vaud. In all cantons and in both survey periods, NCD patients and those aged 73–85 had a higher vaccination coverage than participants without NCD, and aged 60–72. There was no difference in the odds of getting an influenza shot based on legal framework. Although a comparison of the number of activities between the German-speaking cantons did not reveal any significant differences, the odds of the participants living in a French-speaking canton getting an influenza vaccination was more likely than those living in a German-speaking canton. Conclusion There was no association between the investigated cantonal frameworks and number of health activities and influenza vaccination coverage in NCD patients in the selected cantons. However, age, disease status and linguistic region appear to have an influence on vaccination uptake

Peri-Pandemic Acceptance of Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination by Swiss Healthcare Workers in Primary Care 2020/21: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: To assess and compare influenza and COVID-19 vaccination uptake of Swiss healthcare workers (HCWs) in primary care 2020/21.Methods: Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination uptake and recommendation behaviours of HCWs in the primary care were assessed using an online semi-structured questionnaire. Associations between vaccination rates and age, language, gender, profession, vaccination history, vaccination training and recommendation behaviours were evaluated using descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses.Results: Vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2020/21 were 91.8% of the 1,237 participating HCWs, while 60.1% were vaccinated against influenza. Physicians and pharmacists presented the highest influenza vaccination rates (87.3%, 73.7%, respectively) compared to nurses (45.8%) and medical practice assistants (52.5%) while COVID-19 vaccination rates were high across all professions. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination rates were significantly associated with age, profession, vaccination history, vaccination training and recommendation behaviours.Conclusion: Acceptance for influenza vaccination has increased during the pandemic but is lower than that for COVID-19 among the HCWs. Demographics, vaccination status and vaccination training impact the vaccination behaviour among HCWs and should be considered in future campaigns to increase vaccination uptake

Influenza Vaccination Behaviour of Healthcare Workers in Switzerland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: As no data are available regarding the influenza vaccination status of Swiss healthcare workers (HCW) in the ambulatory setting, this study aims to investigate their influenza vaccination behaviours. Methods: We conducted an online survey using a four-item, semi-structured questionnaire to assess HCWs influenza vaccination coverage and behaviour. Associations between influenza vaccination status, age and language as well as recommendation behaviour and reasons for vaccination were assessed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 1057 completed questionnaires, 425 (40.2%) HCW were vaccinated and 632 (59.8%) not. 78.1% of the physicians and 47.3% pharmacists were vaccinated, compared to only 29.1% of the nurses, 24.3% pharmacy technicians and 13.0% medical practice assistants (MPA). There was a significant association between influenza vaccination status and HCW profession, age, language and how often an influenza vaccination recommendation was made. Conclusion: Demographic factors seem to influence HCWs’ attitudes towards influenza vaccination, which in turn affects the prospect of them recommending the influenza vaccination. Diverse strategies might be necessary to encourage HCW to get vaccinated and hence, promote influenza vaccination

Swiss interdisciplinary guidance on good practices for acute and complicated diabetic foot syndromes

BACKGROUND Diabetic foot syndromes (DFS) usually have negative outcomes for patients characterised by multiple comorbidities and frailty. In Switzerland, we need a nationwide "quality of care" programme consisting of evidence-based, practical guidance for primary care providers, together with the implementation of a multidisciplinary care system for DFS. METHODS Elaboration of interprofessional and comprehensive Swiss practical guidance for the timely management of acute DFS. This guidance will not replace existing recommendations, but will be complementary to them. Before nationwide implementation, three Swiss pilot sites will test the guidance in collaboration with local interprofessional foot-care centres. RESULTS Under the umbrella of QualiCCare, and endorsed by the professional societies involved, twenty experts from all relevant professions issued four protocols for various aspects of DFS between March 2018 and January 2020. In addition, they defined criteria for triage and treatment in primary care, as well as the timely referral of patients with DFS to interprofessional foot-care centres. We propose a framework for multidisciplinary, specialised foot-care networks, and interprofessional foot-care centres. The piloting of the proposed concepts is underway. All documents are available on the website www.qualiccare.ch. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence-based tools for Swiss primary care providers and specialists, and increase the accessibility for patients to specialised and timely care of DFS

How interprofessional education is offered to pharmacists and pharmacy students: A scoping review

This study presents a review of recent published experiences of Interprofessional Education (IPE) in pharmacy education, aiming to identify the educational, institutional, and systemic factors involved in their development. Six databases were searched. The 147 (100%) articles included described experiences of IPE involving pharmacists or pharmacy students. The activities were concentrated in undergraduate courses (n = 118, 80,27%). Forty-three experiences were referred to as pilot projects. Of all the experiences, 46 (31,29%) involved real patients. Most studies report very little information regarding organizational factors; 24 (16,33%) reported the curricular or mandatory nature of IPE experiences and 35 (23,81%) cited the existence of some type of funding dedicated to the development of the IPE. Barriers and facilitators to the development of IPE in the schools/universities were described and discussed. Many articles refer to the relationship between the IPE activities and the context, considering specific health needs, demographic conditions, health and education policies that demand IPE. The results indicate a great variety of IPE offered to pharmacy students. However, there are still gaps in the institutionalization of IPE in pharmacy education, with limited forms of support

Immunisation coverage of adults: a vaccination counselling campaign in the pharmacies in Switzerland

OBJECTIVE To assess vaccination coverage for adults living in Switzerland. METHODS Through a media campaign, the general population was invited during 1 month to bring their vaccination certificates to the pharmacies to have their immunisation status evaluated with the software viavac©, and to complete a questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 496 pharmacies in Switzerland participated in the campaign, of which 284 (57%) submitted valid vaccination information. From a total of 3,634 participants in the campaign, there were 3,291 valid cases (participants born ≤ 1992) and 1,011 questionnaires completed. Vaccination coverage for the participants was 45.9% and 34.6% for five and six doses of diphtheria, 56.4% and 44.0% for tetanus and 66.3% and 48.0% for polio, respectively. Coverage estimates for one and two doses of measles vaccine were 76.5% and 49.4%, respectively, for the birth cohort 1967-1992 and 4.0% and 0.8%, respectively, for the cohort ≤ 1966. There was a significant difference in coverage for most vaccinations between the two aforementioned birth cohorts. A plot of the measles vaccine coverage over time shows that the increase in coverage correlated with policy changes in the Swiss Immunisation Schedule. CONCLUSIONS Despite selection bias and low participation, this study indicates that vaccination coverage for the basic recommended immunisations in the adult population in Switzerland is suboptimal. More efforts using various means and methods are needed to increase immunisation coverage in adolescents before they leave school. An established method to determine vaccination coverage for the general population could provide invaluable insights into the effects of changes in vaccination policies and disease outbreaks