General practitioners' challenges during the 2009/A/H1N1 vaccination campaigns in Australia, Israel and England: a qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
The 2009/A/H1N1 influenza vaccination campaign was managed mainly by general practitioners (GPs); however, little is known about the challenges GPs encountered during the vaccination campaign.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the challenges GPs encountered during the 2009/A/H1N1 vaccination campaign.


METHODS
In-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with GPs in Australia, Israel and England, and subjected to thematic analysis.


RESULTS
GPs experienced different levels of autonomy when organising vaccinations in clinics. Their significant role was the provision of advice about the vaccine to the patients. This role was challenged by the necessity to provide the advice as a response to the anti-vaccination messages in the media and because GPs harboured doubts about mass vaccination policies.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important that GPs accept the rationale behind vaccination campaigns and should be given accurate information about the vaccine before the campaign commences. Trustful, two-way channels for communication between GPs and public health authorities should also be established.
MA, is a PhD candidate in the School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.
Marina
M
Kunin
Dan
D
Engelhard
Shane
S
Thomas
Mark
M
Ashworth
Leon
L
Piterman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011634:Public Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines