Coverage rate of influenza vaccine in healthcare workers in the 12 cystic fibrosis centres of the Greater South Region of France in 2005/2006

Introduction In France annual influenza vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers but few data regarding coverage are available. The objective of the present study was to evaluate influenza vaccine coverage rate in healthcare workers from the 12 cystic fibrosis centres in the Greater South Region of France during the 2005/2006 flu season. Methods An observational, descriptive telephone survey was performed from February to April 2006 to collect information about the vaccine status of all the healthcare workers in the 12 cystic fibrosis centres of the Muco-Sud and Muco-Med networks. Results During the 2005/2006 flu season a 59.4% influenza vaccine coverage rate was achieved in the 128 healthcare workers. The influenza vaccine coverage rate ranged from 81.4% (physicians) to 16.7% (social workers). Vaccination was usually performed in October (42.1%) or November (39.5%) by occupational medicine officers (65.8%). The most frequently reported reason for non-vaccination was "vaccine useless as the disease is benign" (36.7%). Conclusions The influenza vaccine coverage rate in healthcare workers from the 12 cystic fibrosis centres in the Greater South Region of France is high, but still too low in view of the risks influenza may incur for cystic fibrosis patients. It fails to meet one of the objectives of French Public Health Law (at least 75% influenza vaccine coverage rate for healthcare workers by 2008).