Background: At the time of the 2009-10 influenza pandemic there was considerable unease about vaccination. Early surveys suggested that the intention to be vaccinated amongst healthcare workers was low.
Aims: To determine what influenced vaccination uptake among general practice healthcare workers in Shropshire County Primary Care Trust in the UK.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to all frontline healthcare workers in Shropshire County's general practices in June 2010. All 45 practices participated. Questionnaires were distributed by practice managers to frontline staff and returned by post. Practices with the lowest return rates were reminded by telephone after 3 months.
Results: 205 valid replies were received, giving a response rate of 48.0%. 10.0% reported being infected with the pandemic H1N1 strain by the time they received the questionnaire. 172 (83.9%) respondents reported that they had been vaccinated against H1N1. Influenza infection prior to vaccination had a negative impact on uptake (adjusted OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.56) and previous vaccination against seasonal influenza was associated with increased uptake (adjusted OR 4.07, 95% CI 1.62 to 10.24). Those who received the pandemic vaccine were seven times more likely to accept future vaccines (adjusted OR 7.04, 95% CI 2.70 to 18.37).
Conclusions: Vaccination uptake was significantly higher than the national (40.3%), regional (40.9%), and county averages (49.3%). Motivation for and against vaccination was very similar to that for seasonal vaccination, with previous vaccination having the greatest influence. Ensuring healthcare workers receive vaccination early in their career is likely to set a precedent for future vaccination. This is the first detailed study purely in general practice in England.