Assessing Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Workers in Primary Healthcare Facility in Najran City, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background and objective: Insufficient vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) contributes to nosocomial outbreaks and avoidable deaths. This study assesses vaccine hesitancy among HCWs in primary healthcare facilities and identifies contributing factors in Najran City, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2023 among healthcare workers (HCWs) at various healthcare facilities providing primary care. The study utilized a questionnaire developed in accordance with World Health Organization` (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, covering sociodemographic and medical characteristics, vaccination profiles (19 items), and evidence of vaccination status. A multistage sampling technique was employed to obtain a representative sample, involving random selection of HCWs from various categories (physicians, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, laboratory technicians, radiology technicians, and paramedics) and clustering willing participants from each facility type.

Results: Among the 591 healthcare workers (HCWs), 57.7% were male and 45.8% were aged 31-40 years. Vaccination compliance rates varied, with the highest rates observed for the third COVID-19 dose (86.3%), hepatitis B (81.2%), and influenza (78.3%), while the lowest rate was for Tdap during pregnancy (27.7%). Immunization documentation was primarily evidenced through vaccine records (67.5%), lab tests (51.8%), and disease confirmation (36.9%). In this study 70.9% partially, 19.1% fully vaccinated, and 10% unvaccinated. Regarding immunization documentation, 57% was partial, 15.7% complete, and 27.2% incomplete. Significant predictors of being unvaccinated included male sex (p=0.001), Saudi nationality (p=0.030), and technician/paramedic profession (p<0.001). Additionally, HCWs experiencing burnout were more likely to be unvaccinated (p=0.006). Multivariate analysis revealed that technicians/paramedics were 2.74 times more likely to be unvaccinated than physicians (AOR=2.743; 95% CI=1.140-6.600; p=0.024).

Conclusion: This study highlights significant gaps in vaccination coverage among HCWs, working at primary healthcare facilities with only 19.1% fully vaccinated. Factors such as male gender and burnout contribute to vaccine hesitancy. To address these gaps, future directions such as targeted educational interventions, burnout mitigation, mobile vaccination units, and awareness campaigns are recommended. Additionally, supportive measures to manage burnout are crucial for improving vaccination rates and protecting public health.