Journal of Preventive Medicine

Influenza Vaccine Coverage and Efficacy among King Salman Armed Forces Hospital 2017-2018

Background: Despite recommendations for annual influenza vaccination of health care workers (HCWs) still vaccination coverage is low, studies suggested that misconceptions about safety or efficacy discourage HCWs from up taking the vaccine.

Methods: This is a case control study to measure coverage and efficacy of seasonal influenza vaccination among HCW at king Salman Armed Forces Hospital-Saudi Arabia 2017-2018. Case group were vaccinated (324) and control group were not (324).

Results: Total number of employee 4118, Influenza Vaccination coverage among employee, non-medical and medical are 45.11%, 34.76% and 61.73% respectively. The results showed higher acceptance rate among female than male, higher among non-Arabic nationality next, non-Saudi Arabic then Saudi nationality but did not show relationship with age or smoking. Comparison of the two groups for vaccine efficacy failed to report any association between vaccination status and incidence of influenza like illness, pneumonia, sever acute respiratory infection, hospital admission, seeking medical care or even decreasing duration of sick leaves. Willingness to uptake the coming vaccine found to be associated with up taking the current one and no association with being infected during this season.

Conclusion: This study revealed vaccination acceptance rate increases with being male, non-medical staff Non- Arabic and Non-Saudi Arabic nationality rather than Saudi one, no relationship with age group and smoking. However, failed to show association between up taking the vaccine and lowering incidence of influenza like illness, pneumonia, sever acute respiratory infection, hospital admission, seeking medical care or even decreasing duration of sick leaves. We suggested that vaccine-targeted viruses are not compatible with the circulating viruses at Tabuk area, so studies are needed to identify these viruses.

Author(s):

Salem K Al Dahi, Rofayda M Ahmed, Shatha T Alhakami, Eman Gashgary, Sara A Alaeed, Maryam H Salami and Sahar H Salami

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