Factors of participation in the novel H1N1 vaccination campaign: a panoramic study of practitioners, planners, partners and private citizens in Delaware

Date
2010
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University of Delaware
Abstract
During the novel H1N1 public health event, the Delaware Division of Public Health nH1N1 working group planned dynamically to confront issues associated with logistics, operations, fiscal and administrative concerns, and also to maintain risk communications to encourage the public to receive vaccinations. Despite the successful identification and eradication of many issues and barriers, many Delawarians still did not choose to receive the vaccine, and not all providers choose to administer the vaccine, nor all to encourage their clients to receive it. This thesis is designed to identify the factors that affected the extent to which persons participated in these vaccination efforts. Feedback was gathered from healthcare providers, private citizens, and personnel who administered the programs, namely the School Vaccination Program. Feedback was gathered through interviews and attendance at meetings, and also through anonymous online surveys. Major factors of participation identified in this research were communication perceptions and realities, inclusion in planning, extra work burden associated with these vaccination efforts, the use of volunteers in operations, media propaganda, concerns regarding vaccine safety, specifically safety associated with Thimerosal, issues for those with special needs, anxiety associated with a novel public health event, persons who are categorically opposed to vaccinations as a disease control strategy, and the use of mediating structures. Among these factors, the most significant is that there were many factors of Participation In The nH1N1 Vaccination Campaign competing sources of information, and that the Division of Public Health was not necessarily held in superlative value by the public compared to other sources as it sought to provide information, services and guidance to the public. Future research should be conducted to identify the most efficient and trusted channels of information that can be used to communicate with the public amidst novel public health events.
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