OBSTACLES TO HEPATITIS-B VACCINE UPTAKE BY HEALTH-CARE STAFF

Objectives: (1) To identify reasons for non-uptake of hepatitis B vacc ine by health care staff; (2) to determine whether fully vaccinated st aff are aware of the need to consider booster vaccinations in the futu re. Design: Semi-structured anonymous questionnaire survey of health c are staff. Setting: Croydon health district, south London. Subjects: 4 62 health care staff. Results: 300 staff (65%) responded, The reasons given by staff for non-uptake included fear of side-effects or injecti ons, misconceptions about hepatitis B transmission, the alternative us e of homeopathic vaccine, pressure of work, difficulties in arranging vaccination, forgetfulness, and 'inertia'. Of the 54 unvaccinated staf f, 55.6% believed themselves to be at high risk of contracting hepatit is B as a result of their occupation; 33% of 202 fully vaccinated staf f were unaware of the use of booster doses of vaccine to maintain long -term immunity. Conclusions: The level of awareness and understanding about hepatitis B vaccination of any group of health care staff should not be assumed. A number of specific educational and organisational i ssues need to be addressed when implementing staff vaccination program mes. Without the use of automatic call-recall systems the long-term su ccess of staff hepatitis B vaccination programmes may be in doubt.