Willingness to have influenza vaccine vaccination and its associates among community health workers in Shenzhen city: a cross-sectional survey

  Objective  To examine the willingness to have influenza (flu) vaccine vaccination and its influencing factors among community doctors in Shenzhen city and to provide references for developing strategies on flu vaccination in community doctors.

  Methods   Using multistage random cluster sampling, we conducted an online survey among 2 407 doctors working in community healthcare centers in 5 districts of Shenzhen city, Guangdong province during April 1 – 7, 2020. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information on demographics, flu vaccination-related willingness, history, knowledge and attitude among the doctors. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were adopted to explore factors affecting the willingness of flu vaccination.

  Results   Of the 2 399 respondents (99.67% of all the doctors surveyed) with valid information, 83.83% reported the willingness to have flu vaccination. The results of logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the respondents with following characteristics were more likely to have the willingness for receiving a flu vaccination: with a history of receiving flu vaccination (odds ratio OR = 7.738, 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 5.99 – 9.99), considering the necessity of flu vaccination in adults (OR = 5.525, 95% CI: 3.66 – 8.34), having confidence in the safety of flu vaccine (OR = 3.485, 95% CI: 2.75 – 4.42), regarding the necessity of having some vaccines not covered by national planned immunization program (OR = 2.147, 95% CI: 1.58 – 2.91), having confidence in the quality of domestic-made vaccines (OR = 1.613, 95% CI: 1.21 – 2.16), aged 40 years and younger (OR: 1.331, 95% CI: 1.02 – 1.73), and with a comprehensive knowledge about vaccination (OR = 1.331; 95% CI: 1.03 – 1.72).

  Conclusion  Among community doctors in Shenzhen city, the willingness to have influenza vaccine vaccination is relatively high and mainly influenced by age, history of previous vaccination, attitude towards vaccination, confidence in the safety and quality of flu vaccine, and the knowledge about vaccination.