Acceptability and feasibility of seasonal influenza vaccine administration in an antenatal clinic setting.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the acceptability and feasibility of administering seasonal influenza vaccinations in an antenatal clinic setting.


METHODS
All patients were approached during the study period by a dedicated nurse in the antenatal clinic and offered the seasonal influenza vaccine. The nurse was employed in the antenatal clinic for a two-week period in the fall of 2007 and had no tasks other than to approach patients and to offer and administer the vaccine. The proportion of women accepting the vaccine and the most common reasons for refusal were determined.


RESULTS
Not counting multiple visits by the same patient, there were 631 patient visits during the study period, and 266 (42%) women agreed to receive the vaccine. The most common reasons for refusal were already having received the vaccine or not wanting to be vaccinated during pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
In Canada, most obstetricians do not administer vaccines in their offices. By implementing an influenza vaccination program in our antenatal clinic, we accomplished the immunization of almost one half of all patients seen during the study period. Prenatal care providers should routinely offer influenza vaccines as a means to increase vaccination rates among pregnant women.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada.
Mark H
MH
Yudin
Maryam
M
Salaripour
Michael D
MD
Sgro
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012621:Seasons
D007252:Influenza Vaccines