U.S. doctors most apt to get flu shot, nurses least likely

ATLANTA, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. doctors are most apt to get a flu shot, nurses the least, but all healthcare workers are more likely to get vaccinated if offered for free, officials say.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an Internet panel survey of 1,944 self-selected healthcare personnel April 1-16. Overall, 72 percent of healthcare personnel reported having an influenza vaccination for the 2012–13 influenza season, an increase from 66.9 percent vaccination coverage during the 2011-12 season.

More than 92 percent of physicians said they had gotten an influenza vaccine, 89 percent of pharmacists did, 88.5 percent of nurse practitioners/physician assistants did and 84.8 percent of nurses did.

Influenza vaccination coverage was highest among hospital-based healthcare personnel at 83 percent and was lowest among healthcare personnel at long-term care facilities at 58.9 percent.

Vaccination coverage was higher for healthcare personnel in occupational settings offering vaccination on-site at no cost.

Seventy-six percent said they were vaccinated at work on one vaccination day, while 86.2 percent said they were vaccinated at work on multiple days, compared with 53 percent who said they were vaccinated for influenza but their employer offered no on-site, no-coat flu shots.

The findings were published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.