Journal Article

Understanding occupational and attitudinal factors influencing UK healthcare worker decisions for COVID-19 and influenza vaccination: A cross-sectional survey within SIREN

Lut, Irina, Islam, Jasmin, Findlater, Lucy, Hall, Victoria, Russell, Sophie, Foulkes, Sarah, Munro, Katie, Atti, Ana, Sparkes, Dominic, Hopkins, Susan, Bustamante, Quisha, Khawam, Jameel

2025

Overview

Seasonal vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) against COVID-19 and influenza has been recommended to protect patients and the workforce against Winter pressures. We aimed to investigate demographic, occupational, accessibility and tolerability factors associated with COVID-19 and influenza vaccination among HCWs within the SIREN study cohort in 2023/24. We conducted a cross-sectional survey between 29 February-22 March 2024 within SIREN, a prospective HCW cohort across the UK. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) from a multivariable regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with vaccination. Proportions were calculated to describe the rationale for receiving/not receiving seasonal vaccines. A total of 5357/33,007 (16.2 %) SIREN participants completed the survey. 66.7 % (3572/5357) received both vaccines, 2.4 % (129/5357) COVID-19 only, 12.4 % (662/5357) influenza only, and 18.3 % (979/5357) neither. Participants were more likely to receive any vaccine if they were over 65 years (aOR 2.73, 95 % CI: 1.64–4.55), a doctor (aOR 2.28, 95 % CI: 1.70–3.05) or had a chronic respiratory condition (aOR 1.52, 95 % CI: 1.20–1.92). Participants of Black ethnicity were less likely to be vaccinated (aOR 0.42, 95 % CI: 0.27–0.66). The top reason for vaccination was to protect oneself (81.6 %). Concern about long-term side effects was the main reason for not getting vaccinated among those who did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine (30.1 %). We observed differences in uptake and attitudes towards seasonal vaccines among UK HCWs within the SIREN cohort. Differences in demographic characteristics, occupation and attitudes varied by vaccine type and this should be considered when planning seasonal vaccination programmes to protect the health workforce. •The decision to receive a vaccine varied by age, occupation and ethnicity.•Vaccination uptake was higher for the seasonal influenza vaccine than the COVID-19 vaccine.•The top reason for vaccination was to protect oneself.•The main enablers for vaccination related to ease of access and convenience.•Concerns about long-term side effects was the main barrier for vaccination.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Allergy and Immunology / Attitude of Health Personnel / Attitudes / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - epidemiology / COVID-19 - prevention & control / COVID-19 infection / COVID-19 vaccines / COVID-19 Vaccines - administration & dosage / Cross-Sectional Studies / Demographics / Demography / Ethnicity / Female / Flu / Health care / health care workers / Health Personnel - psychology / Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data / health services / Healthcare worker / Humans / Immunisation / Immunization / Influenza / influenza vaccination / Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage / Influenza, Human - prevention & control / labor force / Male / Medical personnel / Middle Aged / nationalities and ethnic groups / Nurses / occupations / Pandemics / Prospective Studies / Public health / Regression analysis / SARS-CoV-2 / SARS-CoV-2 - immunology / Side effects / Statistical analysis / Surveys / Surveys and Questionnaires / United Kingdom - epidemiology / Vaccination - psychology / Vaccination - statistics & numerical data / Vaccinations / Vaccine attitudes / Vaccine hesitancy / Vaccines / Workforce