Am J Prev Med

Abstract

BackgroundRoutine influenza vaccination of health care personnel (HCP) can reduce influenza related illness and its potentially serious consequences among HCP and their patients. Influenza vaccination has been routinely recommended for HCP since 1984.MethodsData from the 2013 and 2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed in 2015. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis procedure was used to estimate the cumulative proportion of HCP reporting 2013\u201314 season influenza vaccination. Vaccination coverage by work setting and occupation were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression and predictive marginal analyses were conducted to identify factors independently associated with vaccination among HCP.ResultsOverall, influenza vaccination coverage was 64.9% among HCP aged 6518 years (95% confidence interval [CI] = 60.5%\u201369.3%), which was significantly higher compared with non-HCP among the same age group (41.0%; 95% CI = 39.8%\u201342.1%) (p<0.05). Vaccination coverage was higher among physicians (82.3%) and nurses (77.5%) compared with other types of HCP (range: 50.2% to 65.6%). Coverage was higher among HCP working in hospitals (76.9%) compared with other settings (range: 53.9%\u201360.2%). Characteristics independently associated with an increased likelihood of vaccination among HCP were higher age, higher education, having more physician contacts, and having health insurance. Having never been married was independently associated with a decreased likelihood of vaccination among HCP.ConclusionsInfluenza vaccination coverage was higher among HCP than non-HCP but still below the national target of 90%. Vaccination coverage varied widely by occupation type, work settings, and demographic characteristics. Evidence-based interventions such as making vaccine available at no cost at the workplace along with active promotion of vaccination are needed to increase influenza vaccination among HCP in all health-care settings.20162018-03-01T00:00:00ZCC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States27866594PMC5831180805