Original Article

Pre-event Willingness to Receive Smallpox Vaccine Among Physicians and Public Safety Personnel

Authors: Benjamin J. Silk, MPH, Carlos del Rio, MD, FACP, Lillian K. Ivansco, MPH, Scott F. Wetterhall, MD, MPH, James J. Augustine, MD, Henry M. Blumberg, MD, Ruth L. Berkelman, MD

Abstract

Background: Planning for voluntary smallpox vaccination of health and safety officials began in December 2002.


Materials And Methods: Surveys were conducted among physicians and fire and police department personnel in Atlanta, Georgia. Information on demographics, willingness to receive smallpox vaccine, self-reported knowledge level, and potential vaccine contraindications was analyzed.


Results: Forty-one percent of physicians (n = 199) were undecided on vaccination (32% would receive vaccine and 27% would not). Forty-eight percent of firefighters (n = 343) and 41% of police (n = 466) were undecided; 23% and 41% would receive vaccine, whereas 28% and 18% would not (fire and police, respectively). Absence of contraindications was associated with physicians’ willingness to be vaccinated (P = 0.006). Many physicians (66%) and most public safety personnel (88%) considered themselves inadequately informed on smallpox vaccine. In a multivariate analysis, inadequately informed respondents were more likely to be undecided (OR = 2.23, CI = 1.39 to 3.56).


Conclusions: Before implementation of the smallpox vaccination program, self-assessed knowledge about smallpox disease and vaccine were poor.


Key Points


* Willingness to receive smallpox vaccine differed significantly among physicians (32%), firefighters (23%), and police (41%), but all three respondent types were frequently undecided (44%).


* Physicians indicated a contraindication to the vaccine in themselves or a household member more often than public safety personnel (39% vs 27%).


* The absence of any contraindication was associated with willingness to be vaccinated in physicians but not public safety personnel.


* Many physicians (66%) and most public safety personnel (88%) considered themselves to be inadequately informed on smallpox vaccine.


* Respondents who were undecided on receiving vaccine were more than twice as likely to report inadequate knowledge of smallpox vaccine when compared with those who were willing to receive vaccine (OR = 2.23).

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