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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the coverage rates for influenza vaccination among health-care personnel (HCP), and if the reasons for accepting influenza vaccine by HCP and the frequency of vaccine-related adverse events (AEs) in 2010-2011 were different compared to 2009-2010. The AEs were detected by telephoning the worker one week after the vaccination. The coverage for seasonal vaccination in 2009-2010 was 31.0%, whereas that for 2009 pandemic influenza (H1NI) was 22.2% and 24.4% (p<0.05) in 2010-2011. The most frequent reason for being vaccinated during the three campaigns was to "protect my health". Over 80.5% of the HCP reported 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1) vaccine-related AEs compared to the 25.3% and 25.4% reporting seasonal vaccine-related AEs in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 respectively (p<0.05). None of the AEs were severe. Specific measures should be implemented in our country to recover and improve poor vaccination coverage., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: BACKGRAUND: Fear of adverse effects (AE) represents a frequent reason among healthcare workers (HCW) for not deciding to receive influenza vaccine. This investigation is carried out with the objectives of knowing the frequency of AE and the factors associated with them after the administration of influenza vaccines in the 2009-2010 season in HCW., Methods: Cohort study that included the 969 HCW vaccinated against seasonal influenza and the 693 HCW vaccinated against new influenza A (H1N1) virus during the 2009-2010 season in a tertiary hospital. To detect adverse effects, HCW was telephoned one week after vaccination., Results: Frequency of AE ranged between 24.5% of HCW who received only seasonal influenza vaccine and 82.6% of those who received vaccine against new influenza A (H1N1) virus. The most frequent AE were pain and general discomfort. None of the adverse effects was considered serious. Age and presence of an adjuvant in the vaccine were associated with appearance of AE after administration of vaccine against new influenza A (H1N1) virus., Conclusions: Vaccines against seasonal influenza and new influenza A (H1N1) are safe; frequency of AE related to this one was high, especially if it contained an adjuvant. Since none of the AE detected was serious, HCW can not justify his rejection of vaccination because of suffering the above-mentioned AE.