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. 2013 Mar 1;54(2):469-75.
doi: 10.3349/ymj.2013.54.2.469.

Outpatient-based pneumococcal vaccine campaign and survey of perceptions about pneumococcal vaccination in patients and doctors

Joon Young Song  1 , Hee Jin Cheong, Jung Yeon Heo, Ji Yun Noh, Yu Bin Seo, In Seon Kim, Won Suk Choi, Woo Joo Kim
Affiliations

Outpatient-based pneumococcal vaccine campaign and survey of perceptions about pneumococcal vaccination in patients and doctors

Joon Young Song et al. Yonsei Med J. .

Abstract

Purpose: Despite the ready availability of pneumococcal vaccine, vaccination rates are quite low in South Korea. This study was designed to assess perceptions and awareness about pneumococcal vaccines among subjects at risk and find strategies to increases vaccine coverage rates.

Materials and methods: A cross sectional, community-based survey was conducted to assess perceptions about the pneumococcal vaccine at a local public health center. In a tertiary hospital, an outpatient- based pneumococcal vaccine campaign was carried out for the elderly and individuals with chronic co-morbidities from May to July of 2007.

Results: Based on the survey, only 7.6% were ever informed about pneumococcal vaccination. The coverage rates of the pneumococcal vaccine before and after the hospital campaign showed an increased annual rate from 3.39% to 5.91%. The most common reason for vaccination was "doctor's advice" (53.3%). As for the reasons for not receiving vaccination, about 75% of high risk patients were not aware of the pneumococcal vaccine, which was the most important barrier to vaccination. Negative clinician's attitude was the second most common cause of non-vaccination.

Conclusion: Annual outpatient-based campaigns early in the influenza season may improve pneumococcal vaccine coverage rates. Doctor's advice was the most important encouraging factor for vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Monthly number of pneumococcal vaccinations for the high risk population of a tertiary teaching hospital: a comparison between pre-campaign (May 2006-April 2007) and post-campaign (May 2007-April 2008) periods.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pneumococcal vaccine coverage rates (number of vaccinees) for the high risk population of a tertiary teaching hospital, classified according to age and chronic medical conditions; connective tissue diseases include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases requiring the use of either steroids or immunosuppressants. *p<0.01, †p=0.03.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Doctor encouraging factors (%) for the prescription of pneumococcal vaccine at a tertiary teaching hospital (total no.=75); each doctor ranked three high priorities in sequence.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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