Hepatitis B vaccination programs for hospital workers: results of a statewide survey.
To assess the implementation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination programs for hospital workers, we mailed questionnaires to all 229 licensed Michigan hospitals. The response rate was 96% (221/229); of these, 68% (150/221) had vaccination programs. Although multiple hospital characteristics were associated with the presence of a vaccination program, characteristics that independently predicted the presence of a program were medical school affiliation, nonpsychiatric specialty, and the existence of a hepatitis B immune globulin protocol. The most common reason given (56%, 40/71) for the absence of a program was insufficient worker risk of hepatitis B infection; this response was frequent in psychiatric (91%, 10/11) and rural hospitals (61%, 11/18). Among high-risk workers, attending physicians were less likely than other high-risk workers to be included in vaccination programs (68% vs. 95%, respectively). Fear of vaccine-associated acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was most frequently cited as the primary reason for vaccine refusal. We conclude that unwarranted fears about the vaccine's safety need to be dispelled, that high-risk physicians should be included in vaccination programs, and that rural and psychiatric hospital policies reflect their perceived risk of occupational HBV infection.
Sienko
D G
DG
Division of Disease Surveillance, Michigan Department of Public Health, Lansing 48909.
Anda
R F
RF
McGee
H B
HB
Weber
J A
JA
Remington
P L
PL
Hall
W N
WN
Gunn
R A
RA
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005239:Fear; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008824:Michigan; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin