Attitudes Regarding Influenza Vaccination Among Public Health Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic - China, September 2022

China CDC Wkly. 2023 Feb 10;5(6):137-142. doi: 10.46234/ccdcw2023.025.

Abstract

What is already known about this topic?: Public health workers (PHWs) were listed as a priority group recommended for influenza vaccination during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Understanding the drivers of influenza vaccine hesitancy among PHWs can promote influenza vaccination in the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is added by this report?: The study found that 10.7% of PHWs were hesitant to get an influenza vaccination. Drivers associated with vaccine hesitancy were assessed based on "3Cs model." The absence of a government or workplace requirement and concerns about vaccine safety were the biggest obstacles for PHWs to recommend influenza vaccination.

What are the implications for public health practice?: Interventions are needed to improve PHWs' influenza vaccine coverage to prevent the co-circulation of influenza and COVID-19.

Keywords: Influenza vaccination; public health workers; vaccination willingness; vaccine hesitancy.

Grants and funding

Supported by the China Association for Science and Technology (Project Number: 2021ZZKCB082026), and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Project Number: INV-023808)