Martine Stead1, Nathan Critchlow2, Douglas Eadie2, Fay Sullivan3, Katja Gravenhorst4, Fiona Dobbie2. 1. Institute for Social Marketing, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: martine.stead@stir.ac.uk. 2. Institute for Social Marketing, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, United Kingdom. 3. NatCen Social Research, 35 Northampton Square, London EC1V 0AX, Scotland, United Kingdom. 4. Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Mandatory policies have the potential to increase uptake of influenza ('flu') vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs), but concerns have been expressed about their acceptability and effectiveness. We explored views on three mandatory policies (declination forms, face masks or reduced patient contact, and mandatory vaccination) among both HCWs and flu vaccination programme managers in the National Health Service (NHS) in England. METHOD: A mixed method approach was employed. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with staff responsible for implementing influenza campaigns in NHS trusts (healthcare organisations) in England (n = 72 trusts). The survey measured perceived effectiveness of the three mandatory policies and perceived support for them among HCWs. Qualitative interviews were conducted in four trusts, with influenza campaign managers (n = 24) and with HCWs who had the opportunity to receive the influenza vaccination (n = 32). Interviews explored respondents' views of the three strategies and were analysed thematically using QSR NVivo 11 All data were collected shortly after the 2016/2017 influenza season. RESULTS: In the survey, views varied on the effectiveness of the three policies and none of the interventions were thought to be strongly supported by HCWs, with particularly low levels of support perceived for mandatory vaccination and for face masks or reduced patient contact. The qualitative interviews revealed substantial concerns around the practicability and enforceability of mandatory policies and the potential discriminatory effect on HCWs who made a principled decision or had medical reasons for exemption. Additional doubts were also expressed regarding the effectiveness of face masks and their potential to worry patients, and the ethics of compelling staff to accept medical intervention. DISCUSSION: Mandatory vaccination and face masks would not be strongly supported if introduced in the UK. If declination forms are adopted, they should be used in a constructive intelligence-gathering manner which avoids stigmatising HCWs.
INTRODUCTION: Mandatory policies have the potential to increase uptake of influenza ('flu') vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs), but concerns have been expressed about their acceptability and effectiveness. We explored views on three mandatory policies (declination forms, face masks or reduced patient contact, and mandatory vaccination) among both HCWs and flu vaccination programme managers in the National Health Service (NHS) in England. METHOD: A mixed method approach was employed. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with staff responsible for implementing influenza campaigns in NHS trusts (healthcare organisations) in England (n = 72 trusts). The survey measured perceived effectiveness of the three mandatory policies and perceived support for them among HCWs. Qualitative interviews were conducted in four trusts, with influenza campaign managers (n = 24) and with HCWs who had the opportunity to receive the influenza vaccination (n = 32). Interviews explored respondents' views of the three strategies and were analysed thematically using QSR NVivo 11 All data were collected shortly after the 2016/2017 influenza season. RESULTS: In the survey, views varied on the effectiveness of the three policies and none of the interventions were thought to be strongly supported by HCWs, with particularly low levels of support perceived for mandatory vaccination and for face masks or reduced patient contact. The qualitative interviews revealed substantial concerns around the practicability and enforceability of mandatory policies and the potential discriminatory effect on HCWs who made a principled decision or had medical reasons for exemption. Additional doubts were also expressed regarding the effectiveness of face masks and their potential to worry patients, and the ethics of compelling staff to accept medical intervention. DISCUSSION: Mandatory vaccination and face masks would not be strongly supported if introduced in the UK. If declination forms are adopted, they should be used in a constructive intelligence-gathering manner which avoids stigmatising HCWs.
Authors: Katherine Woolf; Mayuri Gogoi; Christopher A Martin; Padmasayee Papineni; Susie Lagrata; Laura B Nellums; I Chris McManus; Anna L Guyatt; Carl Melbourne; Luke Bryant; Amit Gupta; Catherine John; Sue Carr; Martin D Tobin; Sandra Simpson; Bindu Gregary; Avinash Aujayeb; Stephen Zingwe; Rubina Reza; Laura J Gray; Kamlesh Khunti; Manish Pareek Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2022-03-15
Authors: Martine Stead; Allison Ford; Douglas Eadie; Hannah Biggs; Claire Elliott; Michael Ussher; Helen Bedford; Kathryn Angus; Kate Hunt; Anne Marie MacKintosh; Curtis Jessop; Andy MacGregor Journal: Vaccine Date: 2022-06-03 Impact factor: 4.169
Authors: Emanuele Chittano Congedo; Maria Emilia Paladino; Michele Augusto Riva; Michael Belingheri Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-11 Impact factor: 3.390