Vaccination against influenza: UK health care workers not on-message.
Vaccination of health care workers against influenza is considered to be important as a means of protecting patients from nosocomial infection. Vaccine uptake rates have been reported to be no more than 40% and often between 20 and 30%. An evaluation of the performance of UK National Health Service trusts, following a governmental directive to implement vaccination during the winter of 2000-2001, has shown a poor uptake of vaccine. Reasons for accepting or declining vaccine are discussed. There is a need for global leadership on this issue to promote the value of vaccination and to change the behaviour of health care workers.
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. john.harrison@ncl.ac.uk
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D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
D007252:Influenza Vaccines