Positive attitudes of French general practitioners towards A/H1N1 influenza-pandemic vaccination: a missed opportunity to increase vaccination uptakes in the general public?

Attitudes of general practitioners (GPs) towards A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination are unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with computer-assisted telephone interviewing in the French Regional Panel of General Practices from June 16 to September 22, 2009. Of 1434 respondents representative of GPs in four French regions, 885 (61.7%) were willing to accept A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination for themselves. The personal history of seasonal flu vaccination was the strongest independent predictive factor of willingness to accept A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination (p<.0001). GPs receiving seasonal vaccines every year were more likely to accept A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination than those who were never vaccinated in the prior 3 years (adjusted OR=4.38; 95% CI, 2.44-4.67). Willingness to accept pandemic vaccination was also significantly associated with being on call for emergencies; positive attitudes towards other protective measures against A/H1N1 influenza virus in the practice; and a higher readiness to provide additional consultations in response to the pandemic. In conclusion, GPs showed a high acceptability of A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination. GPs' involvement in the mass vaccination campaign, which has been neglected by French public health authorities, may have increased uptake rates in the general public. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.