Attitudes and satisfaction of healthcare professionals towards paediatric influenza vaccination in Spain: A follow-up study

Abstract

Background

The Region of Murcia was one the first Spanish regions to implement a universal influenza vaccination campaign for children of 6–59 months during the 2022–2023 season. The main goal of the study was to assess the healthcare professionals (HCPs) attitudes and satisfaction with the second paediatric influenza vaccination campaign in the Region of Murcia, the 2023–2024, and to compare the results with those from the first campaign.

Methods

Cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out during the 2023–2024 vaccination season using an ad-hoc questionnaire to collect information on HCPs (nurses and doctors) attitudes towards influenza vaccination.

Results

Overall, participating HCPs considered that vaccination against influenza in children of 6–59 months was important or very important, with no differences between professional groups, regardless of their own vaccination status. The ease of administration and the general use of the intranasal (LAIV) and intramuscular (IIV) vaccines was good or very good. A higher score of LAIV's general experience was obtained for the 2023–2024 campaign compared with the 2022–2023 campaign (4.7 vs 4.5, p = 0.006). The score for IIV did not change between campaigns (4.0 vs 4.0, p = 0.98). Of all HCPs involved in the 2023–2024 campaign a higher proportion considered that the presence of a doctor was advisable at school vaccination, but not essential compared with the previous one (54.1 % vs 44.7 %, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Influenza vaccination campaign in the Region of Murcia is highly supported by nurses and doctors. The experience gained during the school vaccination makes vaccination teams feel more confident without a doctor.