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REVIEW PAPER
Influenza prevention among hospital employees in Poland – a narrative review
 
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Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Pediatrics with Clinical Assessment Unit)
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-08-19
 
 
Corresponding author
Dominika Rykowska   

Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Klinika Pediatrii z Oddziałem Obserwacyjno-Izolacyjnym, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 63a, 02-091 Warszawa
 
 
 
HIGHLIGHTS
  • Free vaccinations and education boost vaccination rates.
  • Concerns about side effects and knowledge limit the will to vaccines.
  • Mobile vaccination clinics could raise flu vaccination rates significantly.
  • Doctors are more likely to vaccinate than nurses.
  • In Poland, few healthcare workers view vaccination as key to flu prevention.
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ABSTRACT
Healthcare workers having close contact with patients are particularly vulnerable to influenza virus infection and may serve as a source of transmission. Despite WHO recommendations regarding annual influenza vaccination, the vaccination rate in this professional group in Poland remains very low. Scientific data on the effectiveness of influenza prevention methods are presented in the article. Additionally, attitudes toward influenza vaccination in Poland are analyzed based on a cross-sectional survey conducted at 3 university hospitals in Warsaw. The survey revealed that only 29.9% of respondents perceived vaccination as effective in preventing influenza, while 52.8% pointed to hand hygiene as the primary preventive measure. Significant differences were identified between professional groups, with physicians more likely than nurses to recognize vaccination efficacy (84% vs. 42.4%). The lack of willingness to undergo vaccination is primarily attributed to insufficient knowledge regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, concerns about adverse effects, and limited access to vaccines. Implementation of free workplace vaccinations and educational campaigns is suggested as a means to significantly increase vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel in Poland. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2025;76(5)
eISSN:2353-1339
ISSN:0465-5893
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