Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among School Employees: Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Sch Health
• Personal Author:
  de Perio, Marie A. ; Wiegand, Douglas M. ; Brueck, Scott E.
• Description:
  BACKGROUND
  
  Influenza can spread among students, teachers, and staff in school settings. Vaccination is the most effective method to prevent influenza. We determined 2012–2013 influenza vaccination coverage among school employees, assessed knowledge and attitudes regarding the vaccine, and determined factors associated with vaccine receipt.
  
  METHODS
  
  We surveyed 412 (49%) of 841 employees at 1 suburban Ohio school district in March 2013. The Web-based survey assessed personal and work characteristics, vaccine receipt, and knowledge and attitudes regarding the vaccine.
  
  RESULTS
  
  Overall, 238 (58%) respondents reported getting the 2012–2013 influenza vaccine. The most common reason for getting the vaccine was to protect oneself or one’s family (87%). Beliefs that the vaccine was not needed (32%) or that it was not effective (21%) were the most common reasons for not getting it. Factors independently associated with vaccine receipt were having positive attitudes toward the vaccine, feeling external pressure to get it, and feeling personal control over whether to get it.
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  
  Influenza vaccine coverage among school employees should be improved. Messages encouraging school employees to get the vaccine should address misconceptions about the vaccine. Employers should use methods to maximize employee vaccination as part of a comprehensive influenza prevention program.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Article Cross-Sectional Studies Female Health Behavior Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Health Surveys Humans Influenza Influenza, Human Influenza Vaccines Internet Male Occupational Health Ohio Schools Vaccination Vaccine Workplace

  More +
• Source:
  J Sch Health. 84(9):586-592.
• Pubmed ID:
  25117893
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4532263
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Volume:
  84
• Issue:
  9
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:18e17a304f3bbad5064e43bd8082f6f038cd8096bd3dfc7a87c20309616878aa
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/32780/cdc_32780_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 269.78 KB ]