Vaccination Gaps Among Hospital Staff Highlighted in New Study

To safeguard both themselves and others, healthcare professionals are advised to receive annual vaccinations against influenza and COVID-19, as recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO).

Every year, the Robert Koch Institute surveys hospital staff through its OKaPII study to assess their vaccination status against influenza and COVID-19. In the latest survey, which included 12,324 employees from 85 hospitals, it was found that 56% of respondents had received the flu vaccine. While over 80% of physicians were vaccinated, only about half of the nursing and therapeutic staff had taken the same step. A mere 16% reported having received a booster for COVID-19.

The STIKO recommends annual flu vaccinations particularly for individuals in high-risk groups, such as healthcare personnel, those working in facilities with high public interaction, and individuals who may act as potential sources of infection for vulnerable populations. All three of these factors apply to medical and nursing staff in hospitals. The annual COVID-19 vaccination is also recommended for healthcare workers.

Among those who opted for the flu vaccine, the primary motivation was self-protection. The report from the Robert Koch Institute indicated that unvaccinated individuals most commonly cited forgetting to schedule the vaccination or considering the benefits versus risks to be unfavorable. Concerns regarding the safety of the vaccine were also noted. Interestingly, only 20% of participants were aware that the influenza vaccination could reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Looking ahead to the upcoming vaccination season, 67.3% of hospital staff indicated they are likely or very likely to receive the flu vaccine. In contrast, only 22.6% expressed similar intentions regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. About 9.3% remained uncertain about the flu vaccination, and nearly a quarter of the hospital staff were unsure about COVID-19 vaccination. Alarmingly, 23.4% of employees stated they would probably not get the flu vaccine this fall, while the proportion for COVID-19 reached 54.4%.

This year, the vaccination status for whooping cough (pertussis) was also included in the survey. Findings revealed that 60% of physicians and approximately one-third of nursing and therapeutic staff had been vaccinated against pertussis over the past decade, thus considered adequately protected. Notably, 48% of hospital personnel were unaware that medical staff should receive a pertussis booster every ten years.