Will Influenza Vaccine Receive the Necessary Push? An Assessment of Tertiary Healthcare Workers Uptake and Willingness to Recommend the Vaccine in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Influenza is a significant health threat, especially in low- and middleincome countries (LMICs) like Nigeria, where healthcare workers (HCWs) play a vital role in curbing its spread. This study examined the awareness and willingness of HCWs at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to receive and recommend the influenza vaccine.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 2024 to September 2024, using a structured electronic questionnaire to assess HCWs' uptake and willingness to recommend influenza vaccination. Two hundred and fifty-two (252) respondents participated in this study, and they were chosen using consecutive and convenience sampling. Ethical approval was obtained from the LASUTH Ethics and Research Committee. The dataset was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25, with univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis done to identify significant relationships, setting statistical significance at p < 0.05.

Results: The modal age group was 35-44 years (31.0%), more than three-quarters of respondents were females (77.8%), and the majority of the respondents had at least a tertiary education (67.9%). Most respondents (59.29%) demonstrated good knowledge of influenza, with 92.3% recognizing it as a viral infection. Willingness to recommend (81.4%) and receive (85.7%) the vaccine was high. Clinical roles and educational levels significantly influenced willingness, with clinical staff being more likely to recommend (p < 0.001) and receive (p = 0.0086) the vaccine.

Conclusion: This study examines HCWs’ uptake and willingness to recommend the influenza vaccine. Targeted education about vaccine safety misconceptions could enhance HCW uptake, promoting broader public vaccination.