[The seasonal flu vaccination among caregivers in geriatric units: Up-to-date]

Acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine: a cross-sectional study in a Tunisian general hospital

Introduction

the year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic that killed more than one million people. Several vaccines have been developed and vaccination campaigns started in December 2020. The objective of our study was to assess the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine by hospital staff.

Methods

cross-sectional study conducted on a representative sample drawn at random from the staff of the Military General Hospital of Tunis. Data was collected between August and September 2020 by a clinical psychologist. We studied the associations between the different characteristics of our population and the decision to accept or refuse vaccination against COVID-19.

Results

a total of 398 hospital staff agreed to answer our questionnaire. Our sample was composed of 9% (n=36) physicians, 0.9% (n=3) pharmacists, 41.3% (n=164) paramedics, 16.1% (n=64) cleaning staff and 32.7% (n=131) administrative staff. The rapid discovery of the vaccine was hoped by 97% (n=386). Vaccination was considered a means of collective protection by 84.7% (n=337). However, only 58% (n=231) agreed to be vaccinated by the COVID-19 vaccine. The main factors significantly associated with acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine was previous influenza vaccination (aOR: 2.58, 95% CI 1.69-3.94; p=0.000).

Conclusion

apprehension about vaccination does not appear to be sparing the future COVID-19 vaccine. Fear of vaccine side effects outweighs fear of the disease, even among hospital staff. To achieve vaccination coverage, several awareness and communication activities must be carried out.

Seasonal flu vaccination, a matter of emotion? An experimental study on role of compassion, socioeconomic status and perceived threat among healthcare workers

OBJECTIVE

This study tests the impact of threat on compassion and vaccination intention among healthcare workers (HCWs) with low and high socio-economic status (SES) in France.

DESIGN

A total of 309 HCWs were analyzed (M_age=39.29, SD = 11.76). Participants with high (n = 138) or low (n = 171) SES were randomly assigned to a Threat (n = 187) versus a No-Threat (n = 122) condition through filling in MacArthur's scale. During this manipulation, participants read about an interaction involving a HCW with an SES higher than that of the participant. After filling in the MacArthur scale, all participants went through a compassion manipulation. Finally, participants read a text describing a patient's distress.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the vaccination intention score. The secondary outcome included the compassion score.

RESULTS

The interaction of the Group X SES Subjective on compassion was not significant (p = .34, η_p² = .003, 95%CI [-.39,.07]). The interaction of the Group X Diploma on vaccination intention with high compassion was significant (p<.001, η_p² = .173, 95%CI [.11,1.68]). Planned comparisons revealed a significant difference in vaccination intention score between HCWs with low SES between Threat (M = 3.58, SD = 2.56) and No-Threat (M = 5.27, SD = 2.27; p=.01) conditions.

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, compassion inhibited the distress elicited in the threat condition in HCWs with high compassion.

[Distrust of vaccination: Why?]

Vaccines have saved millions of lives and reduced the severity of many infections. A reduction in vaccination coverage is now reflected in the re-emergence of epidemics of mumps, pertussis, measles and chickenpox. Many people do not recognize the effectiveness of vaccination and fear the side effects. The main concern is the safety of vaccines. Lack of information weighs less than lack of trust in health authorities. The greater responsibility of the individual and the respect for his free will, may lead the authorities to a less vigourous promotion of the "vaccination duty" which is also a social duty. The attitude of individuals is guided by their health beliefs which are often supported by an erroneous perception of risk. In addition, insidious anti-vaccine lobbying plays on fears and uses biased reasoning that the media help to amplify. Thus the analysis of the brakes to vaccination both in the general population and among health professionals, the dismantling of the arguments developed by the anti-vaccine leagues and vigilance with regard to "fake news" should allow a concerted communication, transparent, clear and effective, in order to limit the occurrence of preventable deaths.

Non-familial paid caregivers as potential flu carriers and cause of spread: the primary prevention of flu measured through their adhesion to flu vaccination campaigns-A Florentine experience

Introduction: Influenza vaccination is recommended for caregivers of elderly people. In a study aimed at assessing the level of health literacy (HL) in a sample non-familial caregivers in the Florence Health District (Tuscany), data were collected regarding access and adherence to the flu vaccination campaigns.

Methods: The sample consists of 47 non-familial paid caregivers.

We collected information regarding socio-demographic characteristics, services provided and daily work time, whether or not influenza vaccination was administered for the 2016/2017 season and in the previous three years. The level of HL was assessed through the Newest Vital Sign.

Results: 63.8% of non-familial caregivers have not joined the flu campaigns over the last four years, 14.9% have been vaccinated only sometimes (in some epidemic seasons), and 21.3% have received a flu shot in all the seasons investigated. Most of the non-familial caregivers who do not get vaccinated (27.7%) do not perceive that they are in direct contact with a person at-risk; those who get the vaccine regularly (12.8%) reported they want to protect the assisted person as motivation for vaccine uptake. Vaccination was not associated with HL.

Conclusion: Adhesion to anti-flu vaccination campaigns for these homecare workers has been resulted rather poor. Coverage does not seem to be related with HL level. It seems appropriate to promote extensively flu vaccination among family carers by actively offering the vaccination in appropriate forms, places and times, to avoid serious consequences on elderly people with higher risk of comorbidity and frailty.