• cultural factors
• parents
• saudi arabia
• school age
• vaccine

• Attitudes
• Barriers
• Children vaccination
• Influenza vaccine
• Motivators
• Seasonal influenza
• Yemen

• Barriers
• Influenza
• Motivators
• Physicians
• Primary care
• Qatar
• Seasonal
• Vaccination

• healthcare workers
• influencing factors
• influenza vaccine
• meta-analysis
• vaccination rate

• Humans
• Influenza, Human/prevention & control
• Influenza, Human/epidemiology
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Influenza Vaccines
• Vaccination
• Health Personnel

• Humans
• Influenza, Human/epidemiology
• Influenza, Human/prevention & control
• Influenza Vaccines
• Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
• Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype
• Prevalence
• Qatar/epidemiology
• Pandemics
• Vaccine Efficacy
• COVID-19/epidemiology
• Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology
• Seasons
• Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology

• attitude to health
• community health workers
• health personnel
• healthcare workers
• vaccination
• vaccination awareness
• vaccination delay
• vaccine hesitancy

• Influenza
• Racial differences
• Safety
• Sex differences
• Vaccine coverage
• Vaccine hesitancy

• Health Belief Model
• Middle East
• driving factors
• influenza vaccine
• review

• Healthpersonnel
• health behaviour change models
• integrative review
• occupational exposure
• seasonal influenza (human)
• vaccination
• vaccine hesitancy

• Health care workers
• Lebanon
• acceptance
• influenza
• knowledge
• vaccination

Vaccine hesitancy is a global threat undermining control of preventable infections. Emerging evidence suggests that hesitancy to COVID‐19 vaccination varies globally. Qatar has a unique population with around 90% of the population being economic migrants, and the degree and determinants of hesitancy are not known.

This study was carried out to evaluate the degree of vaccine hesitancy and its socio‐demographic and attitudinal determinants across a representative sample. A national cross‐sectional study using validated hesitancy measurement tool was carried out from October 15, 2020, to November 15, 2020. A total of 7821 adults completed the survey. Relevant socio‐demographic data along with attitudes and beliefs around COVID‐19 vaccination were collected from the respondents.

20.2% of the respondents stated they would not take the vaccine and 19.8% reported being unsure about taking the prospective COVID‐19 vaccine. Citizens and females were more likely to be vaccine hesitators than immigrants and males, respectively. Concerns around the safety of COVID‐19 vaccine and its longer‐term side effects were the main concerns cited. Personal research around COVID‐19 and vaccine were by far the most preferred methods that would increase confidence in accepting the vaccine across all demographic groups.

This study reports an overall vaccine hesitancy of 20% toward the COVID‐19 vaccine and the influence of social media on attitudes toward vaccination which is in keeping with emerging evidence. This finding comes at a time that is close to the start of mass immunization and reports from a migrant‐majority population highlighting important socio‐demographic determinants around vaccine hesitancy.

• COVID-19
• COVID-19 vaccine
• Qatar
• migrant mental health
• social media
• vaccine hesitancy

• Influenza
• Vaccination

• Seasonal influenza vaccination
• barriers
• knowledge
• motivators
• primary healthcare workers

• Awareness campaign
• Children
• Influenza
• Influenza vaccine
• Jordan
• Knowledge

• Influencing factors
• Influenza
• Knowledge and attitudes
• Vaccination

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Health Personnel
• Humans
• Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage
• Influenza, Human/prevention & control
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Singapore
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Tertiary Care Centers
• Vaccination Coverage/statistics & numerical data
• Young Adult

• Influenza
• Vaccination

• Dubai
• United Arab Emirates
• attitude and practice
• healthcare providers
• knowledge
• seasonal influenza
• vaccination

• Children
• Influenza
• Influenza vaccine
• Primary care
• Primary care providers

The purpose of this study was to improve influenza vaccination, and determine factors influencing vaccine declination among health care workers (HCW) in Qatar. We launched an influenza vaccination campaign to vaccinate around 4700 HCW in 22 Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) centers in Qatar between 1st and 15th of November, 2015. Our target was to vaccinate 60% of all HCW. Vaccine was offered free of charge at all centers, and information about the campaign and the importance of influenza vaccination was provided to employees through direct communication, emails, and social media networks. Staff were reported as vaccinated or non-vaccinated using a declination form that included their occupation, place of work and reasons for declining the vaccine. Survey responses were summarized as proportional outcomes. We exceeded our goal, and vaccinated 77% of the target population. Only 9% declined to take the vaccine, and the remaining 14% were either on leave or had already been vaccinated. Vaccine uptake was highest among aides (98.1%), followed by technicians (95.2%), and was lowest amongst pharmacists (73.2%), preceded by physicians (84%). Of those that declined the vaccine, 34% provided no reason, 18% declined it due to behavioral issues, and 21% declined it due to medical reasons. Uptake of influenza vaccine significantly increased during the 2015 immunization campaign. This is attributed to good planning, preparation, a high level of communication, and providing awareness and training to HCW with proper supervision and monitoring.

• health care workers
• influenza
• vaccine

• Background factor
• Epidemiology
• Influenza
• Schoolchildren
• Vaccine

Vaccinating healthcare professionals against influenza is considered an effective infection control measure. However, there is a low uptake of influenza vaccine among healthcare professionals around the globe. Currently, it is unknown whether healthcare professionals in Sierra Leone are aware of, and have been vaccinated against influenza. Also, there is a paucity of research evidence on their level of knowledge and attitude toward influenza vaccination. This study assessed healthcare professionals’ current influenza vaccine uptake rate, reasons for not getting vaccinated as well as their awareness, knowledge of, and attitude towards influenza vaccination in Freetown Sierra Leone.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2016 among healthcare providers working in four public and two private health facilities in Freetown Sierra Leone. Linear regression analysis, one-way ANOVA and independent t-test were employed for data analysis.

Among 706 respondents that participated in the study more than half were females 378 (53.6%), nurses 425 (60.4%), and the majority were between the age group of 20-39 years 600 (85.3%). Only 46 (6.5%) were vaccinated against influenza. Key reasons for not vaccinated against influenza were less awareness about influenza vaccination among HCPs 580 (82.73%) with (β = 0.154; CI 0.058–0.163), the high cost of influenza vaccines and therefore not normally purchased 392 (55.92%) having (β = 0.150; CI 0.063–0.186). More than half believed that HCPs are less susceptible to influenza infections than other people. Also, majority 585 (84.3%) of HCPs thought that influenza disease could be transmitted after symptoms appear. In addition, 579 (83.2%) of HCPs felt that symptoms usually appear 8–10 days after exposure. Close to half 321 (46.0%) of HCPs were not aware of the influenza immunisation guidelines published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Centre for Disease Control.

Influenza vaccine coverage among healthcare professionals in Freetown Sierra Leone was low. High cost, inadequate knowledge about influenza and its vaccine as well as the lack of awareness of vaccine availability were key barriers. Increasing access to influenza vaccine and the use of appropriate educational interventions to increase knowledge and awareness are required to improve influenza vaccination coverage among HCPs.

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-017-4700-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

• Attitude
• Healthcare professionals
• Influenza
• Knowledge
• Sierra Leone
• Vaccination

To study the uptake, barriers and motivators of influenza, pneumococcal, meningococcal and pertussis vaccines among members of public in Arabian Gulf countries.

A cross-sectional survey among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries’ residents. Data collected electronically through a smartphone app. The survey variables aimed to investigate the respondents’ awareness about vaccines against influenza, pneumococcal, meningococcal and pertussis infections. Collected data concerning the respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, their perception toward vaccine uptake and the factors that motivate or demotivate them from taking influenza vaccine. The data were analysed statistically using the SPSS v.23.0. Differences in the characteristics of users from different countries were quantified through bivariate analysis. Other important variables and controlling factors were studied using logistic regression.

A total of 1812 respondents participated in the study. Their mean age was 27 years, 82% were male and 24% had ≥ 1 chronic diseases. The overall uptake of influenza vaccine was 17% (21% among “at risk” people) and ranged from 15% in Saudi Arabia to 24% in Qatar. Doctor’s advice (23%) and a perception of having low body immunity (21%) were the main cited reasons for being vaccinated, whereas unawareness about the vaccine (43%) was the main barrier. The overall uptake of pneumococcal vaccine in the preceding three years was 22% (25% among “at risk” individuals) and ranged from 0% in Bahrain to 79% in Kuwait. The overall uptake of pertussis vaccine was 16% (31% among “vulnerable” people), and ranged from 7% in Saudi Arabia to 75% in Oman. The overall uptake of meningococcal vaccine was 20% (29% among the “at risk” people) and ranged from 3% in Oman to 50% in Bahrain.

The vaccination uptake across GCC countries is suboptimal and varies widely across the countries. Further research is needed to unearth the reasons and formulate action plan.

• Gulf Cooperation Council
• Influenza
• Meningococcal vaccine
• Motivators and barriers
• Pertussis vaccine
• Pneumococcal vaccine
• Respiratory infections

• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Health Personnel/psychology
• Humans
• Influenza Vaccines/therapeutic use
• Influenza, Human/epidemiology
• Influenza, Human/prevention & control
• Influenza, Human/virology
• Pandemics
• Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology
• Vaccination/psychology

• World Health Organization

Influenza continues to have a major impact on vulnerable populations worldwide, particularly among the elderly (≥60 years of age). Vaccination for targeted groups is recommended by the WHO as the most effective way to control influenza infections. Since 2009, the Beijing municipal government has provided influenza vaccination to the elderly at no out-of-pocket cost to reduce influenza threats and improve related health equality. The study aims to evaluate the equality of the policy, and to analyze factors that bring influences to equality.

Based on data from a household survey, concentration index (CI) was calculated to measure the socioeconomic inequality in influenza vaccination. A Logit regression model was used to decompose CI, in which the contribution of each determinant was calculated and the percentages of these contribution were obtained.

Free influenza vaccination at point of use shows significant pro-poor distribution among the elderly in Beijing (CI = −0.115). After the decomposition of CI, the elderly with lower income, higher education, and living in rural areas were more likely to get the influenza vaccination, in which place of residence (contribution percentage = 57 %) held the most contribution of variance.

Beijing’s free influenza vaccination strategy at point of use could provide the poor elderly with equal opportunities to receive preventive health service, showing a significant pro-poor distribution. The poor elderly, who live in rural areas with high education, benefit most from the policy. Further policy interventions should target the population living in urban areas in order to improve the utilization of public health services and health equality.