Increasing seasonal influenza vaccination among high risk groups in China: Do community healthcare workers have a role to play?

Highlights

• Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among high risk groups (HRG) in China is low.

• Community (C) healthcare workers (HCWs) offer primary healthcare for HRG.

• HRG surveyed were willing to follow HCWs’ recommendation for vaccination.

• HCWs rarely recommend vaccine; C-HCWs recommend more often than hospital HCWs.

• C-HCWs can recommend influenza vaccine in routine services to increase HRG uptake.

Abstract

Background

Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in China is low. This study aims to assess the role of community healthcare workers (HCWs) in increasing vaccination among high risk groups in China.

Methods

We analyzed data from four knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies on seasonal influenza vaccination in China targeting guardians of young children, pregnant women, adults aged ≥60 years, and HCWs from 2012 to 2014.

Results

Thirty-one percent of pregnant women and 78% adults aged ≥60 years reported willingness to follow HCWs’ recommendations for influenza vaccination. Guardians were more likely to vaccinate their children if they received HCWs’ recommendations (35% vs. 17%, p < 0.001). Community HCWs were more likely to recommend seasonal influenza vaccination than hospital HCWs (58% vs. 28%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Study results suggest the value of incorporating community HCWs’ recommendation for seasonal influenza vaccination into existing primary public health programs to increase vaccination coverage among high risk groups in China.