2009 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 189-194
The reasons for agreement and disagreement with research on the safety of influenza pre-pandemic vaccination were investigated. Most staff (66.6%) strongly agreed with the effectiveness of vaccines for prevention against pandemics. The three highest-ranking reasons for agreement were as follows: ‘There will be no alternative method’, ‘There will be no other chance for vaccination’ and ‘It seemed effective’. Therefore, their expectations regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine and recognition of pandemic diseases seemed high. More physicians, nurses and paramedics than clerks and cooks agreed that vaccination is effective, because such staff are closer to patients. Half of the physicians, nurses, paramedics and clerks agreed that there will be no alternative method or vaccination seemed effective in contrast to cooks and other categories (cleaning staff, etc.), suggesting that recognition of vaccination differs with staff function. In conclusion, more educational intervention about vaccination is needed to increase knowledge because there was disagreement among the staff as indicated by the selection of the option ‘I expect that I would not be infected’ in all staff categories.
