title: Despite awareness of recommendations, why do health care workers not immunize pregnant women?
abstract: Studies indicate uncertainty surrounding vaccination safety and efficacy for pregnant women, causing a central problem for health authorities. In this study, approximately 26% of participants do not recommend the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis and influenza vaccines to their patients, although being aware of the health ministry recommendations. We found significant statistical discrepancies between the knowledge about the recommendations and their actual implementation, revealing the concerns of health care workers regarding vaccine safety.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: ageser@univ.haifa.ac.il.
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gesser-Edelsburg
authors.affiliation: University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel; Sammy Ofer School of Communication, Herzliya, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaffa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shir-Raz
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Samah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayek
authors.affiliation: The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aassaraf
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Unit, Department of Gynecology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lowenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Health care workers; Influenza vaccination; Pregnant women; Risk communication; Tdap vaccination