Little i
s known about childcare agency
staff vaccination requirement
s, parent
s' perception
s of the
se requirement
s, or vaccine uptake in the
se population
s.
sSec_2">Methods
sp0015">A questionnaire was administered to St Louis parents and childcare agency staff in fall of 2014. The χ<sup>2sup> tests compared staff's versus parents' uptake of hepatitis A, pertussis, and seasonal influenza vaccines. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine individuals being fully immunized (ie, having received influenza, hepatitis A, and pertussis vaccines).
sSec_3">Results
sp0020">Overall, 351 parents and staff from 23 agencies participated (response rate, 32%). One-third of staff (34.4%, n = 33) and parents (37.6%, n = 96) were fully immunized. Parents and staff were equally likely to have received the influenza vaccine (48.8% and 47.3%, respectively), but more staff received the hepatitis A vaccine (85.3% vs 67.5%, χ<sup>2sup> = 11.0, P < .001), and more parents received the pertussis vaccine (66.5% vs 45.8%, χ<sup>2sup> = 12.5, P < .001). Determinants of being fully immunized included having previously received the influenza vaccine, being offered the vaccines, belief that vaccination is important, having immunization recommendation awareness, and not having vaccine misperceptions.
sSec_4">Conclusions
sp0025">Childcare agency staff vaccination can protect employees and children from disease, but their uptake of vaccines needs improvement. Future interventions should be aimed at increasing uptake to lower disease transmission in childcare settings.
