INFLUENZA AND HEPATITIS-B VACCINE ACCEPTANCE - A SURVEY OF HEALTH-CARE WORKERS

To assist in the nonrequired vaccine program evaluation at Valley Hospital and Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, a survey of all employees (n = 379) was conducted, with a 63.3% return rate. The most common reasons for not accepting influenza vaccine were wish to avoid medications whenever possible (47%, 96/203), concern about getting influenza from the vaccine (45%, 89/199), and concern about severe reactions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (37%, 73/196). The most common reasons for not accepting hepatitis B vaccine were not enough exposure to hepatitis B to get vaccinated (52%, 57/110), wish to avoid medications whenever possible (44%, 51/117), and concern about side effects (43%, 50/117). Twelve percent (22/177) of the respondents who reported potential exposure identified the belief of "not enough exposure" as a reason to refuse hepatitis B vaccine. It was also noted that health care workers who rejected hepatitis B vaccine indicated that fear of "getting AIDS from the vaccine" did not influence them (96%, 108/113).