Vaccination coverage among health care workers in the pediatric emergency and intensive care department of Edouard Herriot hospital in 2007, against influenza, pertussis, varicella, and measles

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the vaccination coverage among the medical and paramedical health care workers of the pediatric intensive care and emergency department of Edouard Herriot hospital in Lyon, with respect to influenza, pertussis, varicella, and measles, 4 diseases with air transmission and vaccination recommendations. Method. During February and March 2007, a questionnaire was given by hand to 123 health care workers by a medical student working there or available in the intensive care unit. Results. The response rate to the questionnaire was 68.3%. The vaccination coverage against influenza was 42.8%; men and medical health care workers were better vaccinated. With respect to vaccination against pertussis, one third had received an injection in adulthood, adults under age 30 and medical health care workers were better vaccinated, but the difference was not statistically significant. Ten health care workers were not vaccinated and had no history of measles: only I had had a measles serology and none were vaccinated. Eleven had no history of varicella: 6 had had a varicella serology and none were vaccinated. Conclusions. Vaccination coverage against influenza is higher than what has been reported in the literature, possibly because of a mobile vaccination campaign against influenza made during winter 2006 in this pediatric department. Vaccination coverage against pertussis is encouraging and probably the consequence of an awareness of the gravity of the disease among infants. Individual information is necessary for health care workers on the nosocomial risk for influenza and pertussis in infants, and vaccination must be proposed. Serology against varicella and measles is compulsory for all health care workers with no history and no vaccination against these 2 diseases, to track and vaccinate the nonimmunized personnel. Occupational physicians have a very important role to play in meeting this goal. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.