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Attitudes of school teachers towards influenza and COVID-19 vaccine in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic
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  • DESPOINA GKENTZI,
  • Eleni Benetatou,
  • Sotirios Fouzas,
  • Ageliki Karatza,
  • Aimilia Kanellopoulou,
  • Maria Lagadinou,
  • Markos Marangos,
  • Gabriel Dimitriou
DESPOINA GKENTZI
University of Patras

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Eleni Benetatou
University of Patras
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Sotirios Fouzas
University of Patras
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Ageliki Karatza
University of Patras
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Aimilia Kanellopoulou
University of Patras
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Maria Lagadinou
University of Patras
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Markos Marangos
University of Patras
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Gabriel Dimitriou
University of Patras
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Abstract

Rational, aims and objectives: Our study aims to assess attitudes, knowledge and influenza vaccine uptake of school teachers and the intention to uptake influenza vaccine as well as the COVID-19 vaccine and to identify factors associated with vaccine acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among school teachers in the area of Western Greece from June 2020 to August 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed via an internet-based link along with an invitation email. Results: Responses from 399 participants were retrieved. 139 (34.8%) had received the annual influenza vaccine in the season 2019-2020 whereas 215 (53.9%) stated that they would get it in the forthcoming season 2020-202(p < 0.001). 152 (38.1%) intent to get the COVID-19 vaccine when available. For COVID-19 vaccine factors that were independently associated with the intention to uptake included more than 15 years at work (p=0.001), prior influenza vaccine uptake (p=0.003), believing that COVID 19 vaccine should be mandatory (p=0.04) and that school teachers are a high-risk group for COVID-19 (p=0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to have an impact on the intention of school teachers to get vaccinated for influenza. The low level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance intention amongst the teachers in our cohort warrants further attention. Public health interventions should aim to increase knowledge on both influenza and COVID-19 and prevention of them via immunization in this particular at-risk population.