Online survey on barriers and drivers to flu vaccination among staff at a German university hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic 2022 (flu-vaccination motive study)

Introduction: The success of flu vaccination depends primarily on the willingness of health care workers (HCWs) to be vaccinated. To identify barriers and drivers to vaccination, an online survey among employees and students of a university hospital was performed to develop a local strategy to increase the vaccination willingness in line with the WHO recommendation. Method: Across-sectional, anonymous, self-administered online survey was performed among HCWs, other staff, trainees and students of the Greifswald University Hospital between 17.02.2022 and 17.03.2022. Results: Of 4,709 online questionnaires, 1,515 were answered (response rate 32.2%). 45.3% stated that they were vaccinated annually, 33.4% irregularly and 7.7% had been vaccinated once. 13.6% had never been vaccinated. The proportion of non-vaccinated was highest among trainees and students (25.4%). 5.7% of those vaccinated said the willingness to be vaccinated has decreased because of the pandemic, and 12.1% felt encouraged. 5.8% of those vaccinated at least once did not want to be vaccinated in the future; 14.8% were undecided. The reasons for non-vaccination were dominated by perception of low assumed risk of infection (62.1%), followed by doubts about vaccine efficacy (22.8%) and fear of side effects (13.8%). Conclusions: Because a timely reminder of vaccination was essential for 16.7% of staff, the occupational medical service will intensify the annual vaccination campaign within the hospital. Additionally, staff will be provided with a brief sheet on the importance of flu vaccination every year before the flu season with the option of personal advice from the occupational medical service. In a lecture, medical students are informed about the benefits of the flu vaccination.