Assessment of individual vaccine status in a vaccinology experts' group.
BACKGROUND
Worldwide, experts in vaccinology have promoted the broad annual coverage of health care workers with the influenza vaccine. Furthermore, pertussis vaccination is now recommended for young adults and health care workers working with newborns.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the compliance with these guidelines among experts responsible for the development or dissemination of national immunization schedules.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a vaccinology workshop group of French experts, using a self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
Among 44 experts, the average rate of influenza vaccination was 69.5% (95% confidence interval, 61.6% to 77.3%) between the 2003/04 and 2005/06 flu seasons, whereas the rate of pertussis vaccination during this period was only 30%. The main reasons that the experts gave for not being vaccinated were a lack of time or simply not remembering to do so.


CONCLUSIONS
Experts had low coverage rates for influenza and pertussis vaccination. To improve these rates, a multifaceted intervention combining audit and feedback strategy with a vaccine day is planned.
Duclos
Antoine
A
Département d'Information Médicale des Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pôle IMER, Lyon, France. antoineduclos@yahoo.fr
Bouhour
Damien
D
Baptiste
Charles
C
Launay
Odile
O
Guiso
Nicole
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine