Influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital: Findings from qualitative research in Mysuru, India

Vaccinating health care workers (HCWs) is a common way to prevent influenza-related infection, transmission to patients and absenteeism of HCWs. In India, influenza contributes to 130,000 deaths per year, yet vaccination uptake of HCWs is low. Fifteen percent of the HCWs received one or more vaccina...

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Main Authors: Jantine Marly van Wijlick, K. S. Sahana, P. A. Mahesh, B. S. Jayaraj, Gangadhar Mysore Rajagopal, Christopher Pell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Global Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2541228
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author Jantine Marly van Wijlick
K. S. Sahana
P. A. Mahesh
B. S. Jayaraj
Gangadhar Mysore Rajagopal
Christopher Pell
author_facet Jantine Marly van Wijlick
K. S. Sahana
P. A. Mahesh
B. S. Jayaraj
Gangadhar Mysore Rajagopal
Christopher Pell
author_sort Jantine Marly van Wijlick
collection DOAJ
description Vaccinating health care workers (HCWs) is a common way to prevent influenza-related infection, transmission to patients and absenteeism of HCWs. In India, influenza contributes to 130,000 deaths per year, yet vaccination uptake of HCWs is low. Fifteen percent of the HCWs received one or more vaccinations in 5 years. This study explored the social context of influenza vaccine uptake among HCWs, including physicians, nurses and medical students at a teaching hospital in Mysuru, South India, to generate insights to inform influenza vaccination campaigns targeting HCWs. Qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with HCWs and structured observations at various departments of the hospital were applied. The results indicate that influenza vaccination uptake among HCWs is low due to personal factors related to little perceived personal threat, emphasis on other prevention techniques to avoid transmission, cost of the vaccine and needle anxiety. Besides, institutional factors, absence of recommendations from superiors and lack of promotion campaigns contribute to low uptake. In conclusion, HCW vaccination education and promotion regarding diminishing personal and transmission risk of the influenza virus, uniform vaccination guidelines and strategies to improve access including for those who are burdened by the cost of the vaccine are suggested.
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spelling doaj-art-ea68654e3e4c4b14aa3ee878fc1867c82025-08-20T03:59:40ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062025-12-0120110.1080/17441692.2025.2541228Influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital: Findings from qualitative research in Mysuru, IndiaJantine Marly van Wijlick0K. S. Sahana1P. A. Mahesh2B. S. Jayaraj3Gangadhar Mysore Rajagopal4Christopher Pell5Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD), Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Anthropology, University of Mysore, Mysuru, IndiaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Anthropology, University of Mysore, Mysuru, IndiaAmsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD), Amsterdam, The NetherlandsVaccinating health care workers (HCWs) is a common way to prevent influenza-related infection, transmission to patients and absenteeism of HCWs. In India, influenza contributes to 130,000 deaths per year, yet vaccination uptake of HCWs is low. Fifteen percent of the HCWs received one or more vaccinations in 5 years. This study explored the social context of influenza vaccine uptake among HCWs, including physicians, nurses and medical students at a teaching hospital in Mysuru, South India, to generate insights to inform influenza vaccination campaigns targeting HCWs. Qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with HCWs and structured observations at various departments of the hospital were applied. The results indicate that influenza vaccination uptake among HCWs is low due to personal factors related to little perceived personal threat, emphasis on other prevention techniques to avoid transmission, cost of the vaccine and needle anxiety. Besides, institutional factors, absence of recommendations from superiors and lack of promotion campaigns contribute to low uptake. In conclusion, HCW vaccination education and promotion regarding diminishing personal and transmission risk of the influenza virus, uniform vaccination guidelines and strategies to improve access including for those who are burdened by the cost of the vaccine are suggested.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2541228Influenza vaccinationhealth care workersIndiavaccine uptakequalitative research
spellingShingle Jantine Marly van Wijlick
K. S. Sahana
P. A. Mahesh
B. S. Jayaraj
Gangadhar Mysore Rajagopal
Christopher Pell
Influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital: Findings from qualitative research in Mysuru, India
Global Public Health
Influenza vaccination
health care workers
India
vaccine uptake
qualitative research
title Influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital: Findings from qualitative research in Mysuru, India
title_full Influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital: Findings from qualitative research in Mysuru, India
title_fullStr Influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital: Findings from qualitative research in Mysuru, India
title_full_unstemmed Influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital: Findings from qualitative research in Mysuru, India
title_short Influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital: Findings from qualitative research in Mysuru, India
title_sort influenza vaccination uptake of health care workers in a tertiary hospital findings from qualitative research in mysuru india
topic Influenza vaccination
health care workers
India
vaccine uptake
qualitative research
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2541228
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