Promoting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination among healthcare personnel: A multifaceted intervention at a tertiary-care center in Japan. (21st September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takamatsu, Akane; Honda, Hitoshi; Kojima, Tomoya; Murata, Kengo; Babcock, Hilary M.
• Is Part Of: Infection control and hospital epidemiology. Volume 43:Number 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1201
• Page End: 1206
• Publication Date: 2022-09-21
• Subjects: Nosocomial infections -- Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health facilities -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Hospital buildings -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Hospitals -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1017/ice.2021.325
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-823X

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine may hold the key to ending the pandemic, but vaccine hesitancy is hindering the vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP). We examined their perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine and implemented an intervention to increase vaccination uptake. Design: Before-and-after trial. Participants and setting: Healthcare personnel at a 790-bed tertiary-care center in Tokyo, Japan. Interventions: A prevaccination questionnaire was administered to HCP to examine their perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine. A multifaceted intervention was then implemented involving (1) distribution of informational leaflets to all HCP, (2) hospital-wide announcements encouraging vaccination, (3) a mandatory lecture, (4) an educational session about the vaccine for pregnant or breastfeeding HCP, and (5) allergy testing for HCP at risk of allergic reactions to the vaccine. A postvaccination survey was also performed. Results: Of 1, 575 HCP eligible for enrollment, 1, 224 (77.7%) responded to the questionnaire, 533 (43.5%) expressed willingness to be vaccinated, 593 (48.4%) were uncertain, and 98 (8.0%) expressed unwillingness to be vaccinated. The latter 2 groups were concerned about the vaccine's safety rather than its efficacy. After the intervention, the overall vaccination rate reached 89.7% (1, 413 of 1, 575), and 88.9% (614 of 691) of the prevaccination survey respondents answered "unwilling" to or "unsure" about eventually receiving a vaccination. In the postvaccination questionnaire, factors contributing to increased COVID-19 vaccination included information and endorsement of vaccination at the medical center (274 of 1, 037, 26.4%). Conclusions: This multifaceted intervention increased COVID-19 vaccinations among HCP at a Japanese hospital. Frequent support and provision of information were crucial for increasing the vaccination rate and may be applicable to the general population as well.