Introduction

Influenza is referred to the viral infection which attacks and infects the respiratory system of the body that is lungs, nose and throat making individuals develop symptoms such as sore throat, cough, sneeze, headache and others (Grohskopf et al. 2019). The influenza flu is of different types and is found to more intricately affect the healthcare workers that make them face hindered health condition. However, effective vaccination for influenza is present which allows protection to individuals from getting affected by the disease. In this research study, the factors which influence uptake of vaccine for influenza among the healthcare workers are to be discussed. This is to understand the aspects responsible for making influenza vaccination important for healthcare workers. For this purpose, methodology is to be discussed where explanation of information regarding the way related to the study topic is to be collected. The way ethical considerations are to be ensured in the study is to be discussed.

Rationale of Study

Influenza is able to cause a spectrum of illness ranging from mild to severe among people and it does not allow protection to people who have already suffered from the illness. This means that people are able to get reinfected with influenza even after coping from the disease (Petrova and Russell, 2018). In the winter months, the frontline workers are prone to get more exposed to influenza virus as during this phase increased numbers of infected patients are required to be managed by them. It is reported that 1 in 4 healthcare workers are prone to get infected as a result of influenza during a mild season (NHS, 2019). This is considered a greater incidence than expected in the general population ensuring healthcare workers are to be adversely affected without vaccination.

The reports of 2019 inform that nearly 70.3% of the frontline healthcare workers have received seasonal influenza vaccine compared to 68.7% of healthcare workers in 2018 and 63.2% in 2016 (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, 2019). In regard to staff groups, it is seen that 72.5% of general practice nurses and 72% of supportive clinical staffs have taken influenza vaccine in 2017-18. This is compared to 63.1% general practice nurses who have taken influenza vaccine in 2016-17 (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, 2019). Thus, the statistics inform that there is increase in uptake of influenza vaccine among the healthcare workers and different staffs in the UK.

The aggregate of seasonal influenza flu vaccine taken by healthcare workers of all trust in 2018-19 was reported to be 64-82.2% and among them, NHS England team reported an aggregate of 75% and over to be the key trust where the highest number of health professional are vaccinated (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, 2019). The seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among acute trust is referred to be 64-76.9% and the highest vaccine was mentioned to be received by North West PHE centre and lowest by the London PHE centres which are similar in the previous year (Edelstein and Pebody, 2014). This indicates that vaccine uptake was higher compared to the earlier years among the healthcare trust where healthcare workers mainly provide care to different service users.

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In contrast, the study by Kassianos (2015) informed that the willingness to avail influenza vaccine by the healthcare professionals in overall Europe is quite low. Moreover, the study by Jorgensen et al. (2018) mentioned that from 2009 to 2015, very few countries reported having met the 75% goal of vaccination for healthcare workers and individuals set by WHO. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the key factors that influenced the UK trusts and healthcare workers in taking vaccine for influenza which has led to lower incidence of the disease among the healthcare staffs. Thus, this study is essential to be developed so that the key factors can be explored which can be considered by healthcare trusts over Europe and other countries to increase vaccination of healthcare staffs. It would ensure protecting them from getting infected or spreading the infection while offering care to the service users.

Aim

The study aims to determine the responsible factors that influenc