Attitudes of school teachers toward influenza and COVID-19 vaccine in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of the surveyed population (n = 399) and vaccine uptake (influenza, COVID-19)

	n	%
Gender
Male	88	22,1
Female	311	77,9
Age group (years)
22–31	46	11,5
32–41	102	25,6
42–51 52-67	138 113	34,6 28,3
Subspecialty
Kindergarten teacher	121	30.3
Elementary/Primary school teacher	278	69.7
Marital status
Married/cohabiting	287	71.9
Divorced	28	7
Non married/single	84	21.1
Mean number of years working as a teacher
0–15	159	39.8
15–30	182	45.6
>30	58	14.5
Number of children
no children	110	27.6
1 child	89	22.3
2 children	161	39.8
>3 children	39	9.8
Higher degree
Yes (Master, Ph.D)	143	35.8
No	256	64.2
Main vaccine information source
Family doctor	190	47.6
Internet	128	32.1
Mass media	41	10.3
Other	38	9.5
Influenza vaccine uptake (2019–2020season)
Yes	139	34.8
No	260	65.2
Intention to uptake influenza vaccine 2020–2021 season
Yes	215	53,9
Not decided yet	52	13
No	132	33.1
Intention to uptake COVID-19 vaccine 2020–2021 season
Yes	152	38.1
Not decided yet	88	20.6
No	159	39.8

Table 2. Attitudes and perceptions toward influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine

Influenza related questions	N	%
Do you believe you belong to a high-risk population to contract influenza due to your profession?
Disagree	40	10.0
Neither agree nor disagree	64	16.0
Agree	295	73.9
Do you believe that influenza vaccination should be mandatory to school teachers?
Disagree	163	40.9
Neither agree nor disagree	95	23.8
Agree	141	35.3
Do you believe that influenza vaccine has serious side effects?
Disagree	163	40.9
Neither agree nor disagree	125	31.3
Agree	111	27.8
How effective is influenza vaccination in preventing disease?
Not at all effective	18	4.5
A little effective	143	35.8
Very effective	238	59.6
Main reason for influenza vaccine refusal (2019–2020 season) (more than one answer can be given)
Not effective vaccine	18	7.0
Fear about side effects	72	27.6
Lack of time	27	10.3
Not necessary vaccine	94	36.1
Lack of healthcare provider recommendation	79	30.3
Cost of the vaccine	7	2.6
COVID-19 related questions	n	%
Do you believe you belong to a high-risk population to contract COVID-19 due to your profession?
Disagree	35	8.7
Neither agree nor disagree	52	13.0
Agree	312	78.1
Do you believe that COVID-19 vaccination should be mandatory to school teachers?
Disagree	147	36.8
Neither agree nor disagree	109	27.3
Agree	143	35.8
Main reason for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine (more than one answer can be given)
Fear about side effects	257	64.4
New vaccine not adequately tested	236	59.1
Lack of vaccine effectiveness	67	16.8
Healthcare provider recommendation	25	6.3
Cost	17	4.3
Unnecessary vaccine	30	7.5
Other	7	1.8

Table 3. Determinants of intention to uptake influenza and COVID-19 vaccine in the 2020–2021 season

	Univariable Analysis		Multivariable Analysis*
Variables	crude OR (95% CI)	P-value	adjusted OR (95% CI)	P-value
Intention to uptake influenza vaccine
Gender (female)	0.845 (0.652–1.348)	0.753
Years at work (>15 yrs)	1.513 (0.995–2.091)	0.12
Marital status (married/cohabiting)	1.734 (1.319–2.866)	0.05	1.859 (0.852–2.761)	0.2
Having children (Yes)	0.948 (0.752–1.196)	0.655
Education (Higher degree)	1.269 (0.816–1.443)	0.08
Belief that influenza vaccine should be mandatory	1.466 (1.157–1.858)	0.002	1.324 (1.081–1.662)	0.006
Belief that school teachers are high risk of contracting influenza	1.350 (1.356–1.907)	0.001	1.245 (1.286–2.007)	0.001
Prior influenza vaccine uptake	1.859 (1.252–2.761)	0.002	1.725 (1.354–2.824)	0.005
Intention to uptake COVID – 19 vaccine
Gender (female)	0.651 (0.861–3.918)	0.324
Years at work (>15 yrs)	1.324 (1.231–1.622)	0.001	1.232 (1.321–1.855)	0.001
Marital status (married/cohabiting)	2.056 (0.760–5.562)	0.324
Having children	1.171 (0.980–4.673)	0.251
Education (Higher degree)	1.249 (0.860–1.743)	0.07
Belief that COVID-19 vaccine should be mandatory	1.513 (1.095 − 2.091)	0.012	1.564 (1.195 − 2.591)	0.04
Belief that school teachers are high risk of contracting COVID-19	1.225 (1.752–4.196)	0.001	1.201 (1.732–4.216)	0.001
Prior influenza vaccine uptake	1.334 (1.234–2.564)	0.002	1.365 (1.334–2.864)	0.003

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.

*Only variables significantly associated with vaccine uptake in univariable analysis (p < .05) were included in the multivariable models.

Data availability statement

Data available on request from the authors