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Vaccination Against Seasonal or Pandemic Influenza in Emergency Medical Services

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2016

Alexandre Moser ,
Cédric Mabire ,
Olivier Hugli ,
Victor Dorribo ,
Giorgio Zanetti ,
Catherine Lazor-Blanchet  and
Pierre-Nicolas Carron
Alexandre Moser*
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Thun and Simmental (STS AG), Zweisimmen, Switzerland
Cédric Mabire
Affiliation:
University of Health Sciences (HESAV), Lausanne, Switzerland
Olivier Hugli
Affiliation:
Emergency Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
Victor Dorribo
Affiliation:
Service of Occupational Medicine, Institute for Work and Health, Lausanne, Switzerland
Giorgio Zanetti
Affiliation:
Service of Infectious Diseases, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland Service of Hospital Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
Catherine Lazor-Blanchet
Affiliation:
Service of Hospital Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
Pierre-Nicolas Carron
Affiliation:
Emergency Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
*
Correspondence: Alexandre Moser Department of Internal Medicine Hospital of Thun and Simmental (STS AG) Karl Haueter-Strasse 21 CH – 3770 Zweisimmen Switzerland E-mail: alexandre.moser@h-ne.ch
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Abstract

Introduction

Influenza is a major concern for Emergency Medical Services (EMS); EMS workers’ (EMS-Ws) vaccination rates remain low despite promotion. Determinants of vaccination for seasonal influenza (SI) or pandemic influenza (PI) are unknown in this setting.

Hypothesis

The influence of the H1N1 pandemic on EMS-W vaccination rates, differences between SI and PI vaccination rates, and the vaccination determinants were investigated.

Methods

A survey was conducted in 2011 involving 65 Swiss EMS-Ws. Socio-professional data, self-declared SI/PI vaccination status, and motives for vaccine refusal or acceptation were collected.

Results

Response rate was 95%. The EMS-Ws were predominantly male (n=45; 73%), in good health (87%), with a mean age of 36 (SD=7.7) years. Seventy-four percent had more than six years of work experience. Self-declared vaccination rates were 40% for both SI and PI (PI+/SI+), 19% for PI only (PI+/SI-), 1.6% for SI only (PI-/SI+), and 39% were not vaccinated against either (PI-/SI-). Women’s vaccination rates specifically were lower in all categories but the difference was not statistically significant. During the previous three years, 92% of PI+/SI+ EMS-Ws received at least one SI vaccination; it was 8.3% in the case of PI-/SI- (P=.001) and 25% for PI+/SI- (P=.001). During the pandemic, SI vaccination rate increased from 26% during the preceding year to 42% (P=.001). Thirty percent of the PI+/SI+ EMS-Ws declared that they would not get vaccination next year, while this proportion was null for the PI-/SI- and PI+/SI- groups. Altruism and discomfort induced by the surgical mask required were the main motivations to get vaccinated against PI. Factors limiting PI or SI vaccination included the option to wear a mask, avoidance of medication, fear of adverse effects, and concerns about safety and effectiveness.

Conclusion

Average vaccination rate in this study’s EMS-Ws was below recommended values, particularly for women. Previous vaccination status was a significant determinant of PI and future vaccinations. The new mask policy seemed to play a dual role, and its net impact is probably limited. This population could be divided in three groups: favorable to all vaccinations; against all, even in a pandemic context; and ambivalent with a “pandemic effect.” These results suggest a consistent vaccination pattern, only altered by exceptional circumstances.

MoserA, MabireC, HugliO, DorriboV, ZanettiG, Lazor-BlanchetC, CarronPN. Vaccination Against Seasonal or Pandemic Influenza in Emergency Medical Services. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(2):155–162.

Keywords

Emergency Medical ServicesEMS-workersinfluenzavaccination
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 31 , Supplement 2 , April 2016 , pp. 155 - 162
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2016 

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