Obstetric Provider Attitudes and Office Practices for Maternal Influenza and Tdap Vaccination

Background: Although maternal vaccination with influenza and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines improve health outcomes for pregnant individuals and infants, maternal vaccination rates are low. This study assessed obstetric providers' attitudes and practices related to influenza and Tdap vaccination in four large health systems in New York (NY) and California (CA). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of all obstetric providers within four health systems (two in NY, two in CA) to evaluate provider attitudes and office systems used for Tdap and influenza vaccination. The survey assessed perceptions of influenza and Tdap vaccination based on the Health Belief Model, and assessed office systems (reminders, prompts, standing orders, and patient education) and communication with pregnant patients related to influenza and Tdap vaccines. Results: We had 112 responses (52% response rate) for analyses. Respondents strongly supported vaccination during pregnancy but viewed influenza disease as less of a concern for newborns than for pregnant individuals (40% vs. 67% considered influenza disease to be very significant, p < 0.001). Only 84% agreed that giving influenza vaccine in the first trimester is very safe. Patient vaccine refusal was the most commonly named barrier for both influenza and Tdap vaccination. Providers frequently used office system prompts, but did not frequently use standing orders, patient educational materials, vaccine champions, and feedback on vaccination rates. Conclusions: While most providers consider influenza and Tdap vaccination important during pregnancy, there is room for improvement in focusing on the importance of maternal vaccination to the health of the infant, and increasing the use of office systems to improve vaccination during pregnancy.