Attitudes of dental healthcare workers towards the influenza vaccination

Abstract

Influenza viruses are highly contagious. Medical personnel are at risk of occupational exposure to influenza. Data on dental healthcare workers (DHCWs) immunization status has not been published. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of DHCWs and dental students at a German dental university hospital. Surveys, completed between October 2010 and March 2011, focused on reasons of DHCWs for accepting or declining the influenza vaccination. Furthermore, we characterized attitudes towards influenza infection due to the emergence of the H1N1/2009. Compliance rates with the influenza vaccination among DHCWs were low (31.6%). The main reason for not getting vaccinated against the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus in the 2009/2010 season was the objection to the AS03-adjuvants (48.5%). Of the DHCWs surveyed, 30.6% (74/242) cited that the H1N1/2009 pandemic influenced their attitudes towards vaccination in general. Our findings confirm the importance of a comprehensive approach to the influenza vaccination, ensuring that DHCWs are correctly informed about the vaccine and that it is convenient to receive it. It could be shown that an immunization campaign at the workplace seems to be capable of improving vaccination rates, one-third of the vaccinees have been vaccinated for the first time.