Outpatient-based pneumococcal vaccine campaign and survey of perceptions about pneumococcal vaccination in patients and doctors.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the ready availability of pneumococcal vaccine, vaccination rates are quite low in South Korea. This study was designed to assess perceptions and awareness about pneumococcal vaccines among subjects at risk and find strategies to increases vaccine coverage rates.


METHODS
A cross sectional, community-based survey was conducted to assess perceptions about the pneumococcal vaccine at a local public health center. In a tertiary hospital, an outpatient- based pneumococcal vaccine campaign was carried out for the elderly and individuals with chronic co-morbidities from May to July of 2007.


RESULTS
Based on the survey, only 7.6% were ever informed about pneumococcal vaccination. The coverage rates of the pneumococcal vaccine before and after the hospital campaign showed an increased annual rate from 3.39% to 5.91%. The most common reason for vaccination was "doctor's advice" (53.3%). As for the reasons for not receiving vaccination, about 75% of high risk patients were not aware of the pneumococcal vaccine, which was the most important barrier to vaccination. Negative clinician's attitude was the second most common cause of non-vaccination.


CONCLUSIONS
Annual outpatient-based campaigns early in the influenza season may improve pneumococcal vaccine coverage rates. Doctor's advice was the most important encouraging factor for vaccination.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul 152-703, Korea.
Joon Young
JY
Song
Hee Jin
HJ
Cheong
Jung Yeon
JY
Heo
Ji Yun
JY
Noh
Yu Bin
YB
Seo
In Seon
IS
Kim
Won Suk
WS
Choi
Woo Joo
WJ
Kim
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D008297:Male; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*
D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines