Abstract
This paper reports the results of a study conducted by the Italian Association for Immuneprophylaxis promotion (AIPI) with the aim of surveying the attitudes and perceptions of Italian health care workers regarding the use and efficacy of influenza vaccine. The results clearly show that a high proportion of the questioned health care workers showed a general lack of concern about the severity of the disease. Doubts about vaccine efficacy and fear of post-vaccination side effects were also observed to have an important influence on the vaccination acceptance rates. These data underline the need for a systematic education program to provide influenza vaccination within the public and private health-care sectors in Italy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barker WH. Excess pneumonia and influenza associated with hospitalization during influenza epidemics in the United States, 1970–1978. Am J Public Healt 1986; 76: 761–765.
Fedson DS. Clinical practice and public policy for influenza and pneumococcal vaccination of the elderly. Clin Geriac Med 1992; 8: 183–199.
Glezen WP. Serious morbidity and mortality associated with influenza epidemics. Epidemiol Rev 1982; 4: 25–44.
Immunization Practices Advisory Commitee. Prevention and control of influenza. MMWR 1992; 41: 1–17.
Mostov SR, Cate TR, Ruben FL. Prevention of influenza and pneumonia. Am Rev Respir Dis 1990; 142: 487–488.
Schoenbaum SC. Economic impact of influenza: The individual's perspective. Am J Med 1987; 82: 26–30.
Arden NH, Patriarca PA, Fasano MB, Lui KJ, Harmon MW, Kendal AP, Rimland D. The roles of vaccination and amantadine prophylaxis in controlling an outbreak of influenza A (H3N2) in a nursing home. Arch Intern Med 1988; 148: 865–868.
Patriarca PA, Arden NH, Koplan JP, Goodman RA. Prevention and control of type A influenza infections in nursing homes. Benefits and costs of four approaches using vaccination and amantadine. Ann Intern Med 1987; 107: 732–740.
Patriarca PA, Weber JA, Parker RA, Hall WN, Kendal AP, Bregman DJ, Schonberger LB. Efficacy of influenza vaccine in nursing homes. JAMA 1985; 253: 1136.
Douglas RG Jr. Prophylaxis and treatment of influenza. N Engl J Med 1990; 322: 443.
Heilman C, La Montagne JR. Influenza: Status and prospects for its prevention, therapy, and control. Ped Clin N Am 1990; 37: 669–676.
Kilbourne ED. Inactivated influenza vaccines. In: Plotkin SA, Mortimer EA Jr, eds. Vaccines. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1988: 420–432.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ballada, D., Biasio, L.R., Cascio, G. et al. Attitudes and behavior of health care personnel regarding influenza vaccination. Eur J Epidemiol 10, 63–68 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01717454
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01717454