Hesitancy for influenza vaccine among healthcare workers and mothers of preschool children: A cross-sectional study in Zagazig, Egypt

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy is a worldwide issue. To intensify our efforts to find a solution to this problem, we need to comprehend its magnitude and underlying causes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of influenza vaccine hesitancy and the reasons for it among healthcare workers (HCWs) and mothers of preschool children attending Zagazig Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) Center, Sharqia Governorate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Zagazig MCH Center involving 77 HCWs and 210 mothers of preschool children. Two validated questionnaires (one for HCWs and one for mothers of preschool children) were used to collect data on hesitancy to influenza vaccine. Data analysis perfomed using SPSS v 25.0. For quantitative variables, statistical significance was determined using t -test, whereas Chi-square test was employed for quantitative variables. Poisson regression model was used to determine the independent predictors of influenza vaccine hesitancy. P < 0.05 was used as a level of statistical significance. RESULTS: The prevalence of hesitancy to the influenza vaccine was 46.8% among HCWs and 54.3% among mothers of preschool children. Fear of side effects (42.9%) and doubt in the usefulness of the vaccine (42.1%) were the most frequent barriers. Hesitancy was significantly more prevalent in the negative-attitude HCWs (62.0%) than positive-attitude HCWs (18.5%). According to Poisson regression analysis, the age of the index child, the mothers' source of information, and the frequency of vaccination were the critical indicators of influenza vaccine hesitancy in the studied mothers. CONCLUSION: Influenza vaccine hesitancy among the studied sample is high (46.8% among HCWs, and 54.3% among mothers of preschool children). Periodic health education campaigns to increase awareness and change the negative attitude about the influenza vaccine are recommended.

Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers in a Northeastern Province in Thailand: Findings of a Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Although these comparisons are limited due to differences in study sites and the HCW definition, which was expanded to include all types of HCW working in the hospital in this study as opposed to only doctors or medical service providers in the past studies [22,23], they indicate that HCW in Nakhon Phanom may be more hesitant towards influenza vaccines than normally expected. Our result is also slightly higher compared to studies in countries such as Egypt, Hong Kong, and South Africa, where influenza vaccine hesitancy among HCWs was reported to be below 50% [33][34][35][36].…”