title: Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination among libyan health care personnel: A cross-sectional retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vaccination rate among health-care personnel's (HCPs) are not promising notwithstanding the World Health Organization campaigns over three decades resulting in compromising patient safety. The H1N1 virus, which caused a world-wide pandemic earlier has now transformed into a seasonal flu virus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of 2009-10 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination among Libyan HCPs in four hospitals of Al-Zawia, Libya.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire, which listed eight sections of parameters distributed among 310 HCPs to assess the vaccination rate and resulting adverse effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's χ(2)-test and Student's t-test where appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall pandemic A (H1N1) vaccination among all HCPs was only 107 (39.9%) out of 268 respondents. The distribution of respondents based on physicians, other staff and sex were found significant (P < 0.05). The common barriers of H1N1 vaccination being lack of awareness fear of adverse effects, allergies and religious beliefs. The major adverse effect observed was erythema in 95.56% of physicians and 87.1% in other staff. About 2% of HCPs have reported arthralgia. No significant differences existed between the responses of general variables and adverse effects. The glycoprotein 120 and squalene were found responsible for the reported adverse effects. 37 (82.22%) vaccinated medical HCPs have advised their patients to get vaccinated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to recurrence of H1N1 influenza in recent times, vaccination campaigns should be promoted immediately to address the knowledge gap of HCPs for intervention by regulatory and health organizations in Libya. The health belief model could be applied to improve vaccination among HCPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Zawia, Az Zawiyah, Libya.
authors.forename: Nagiat Tayeb
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Hwisa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Zawia, Az Zawiyah, Libya.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katakam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Zawia, Az Zawiyah, Libya.
authors.forename: Babu Rao
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Chandu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Zawia, Az Zawiyah, Libya.
authors.forename: Mraa Hazim
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ismael
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Zawia, Az Zawiyah, Libya.
authors.forename: Abdalwahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bader
keywords: Cross-sectional; H1N1; Libya; health care personnel's; pandemic; retrospective study