Adesão ao calendário vacinal por profissionais de saúde de Unidades de Terapia Intensiva de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Introduction: Immunization of intensive healthcare personnel (IHCP), in general, protects against the respective diseases, reduces susceptibility, minimizes disease transmission, and mitigates absenteeism. The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that healthcare professionals are inadequately vaccinated. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of adherence to the occupational vaccination schedule proposed by the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIM) and Regulatory Norm 32 (NR 32) among physicians, nurses, and nursing technicians, associated with SOMITI, in the state of Minas Gerais. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, using a structured, anonymous electronic questionnaire on the Google Forms™ platform, which was sent via email to 14,241 physicians, nurses, and nursing technicians working in public and private intensive care units (ICUs) in the state of Minas Gerais and associated with the Minas Gerais Intensive Care Society (SOMITI). The data collection period ranged from November 17, 2020, to July 31, 2021. Results: Among the 14,241 associates, 375 ICHPs were included in the survey. The highest number of respondents was concentrated in the metropolitan regions of Belo Horizonte and Zona da Mata, and the increase in COVID-19 cases reduced the response rate. Of the respondents, 170 (45.4%) were aged between 31 and 40; 244 (65.1%) were female; 205 (54.6%) were physicians; 130 (34.6%) were nurses, and 40 (10.6%) were nursing technicians. Among them, 81.3% worked in adult ICUs, and 308 (82.1%) had between 1 month and 15 years of experience in ICUs, with 238 (63.5%) having their highest working hours in public ICUs. The rates of incomplete vaccination were as follows: hepatitis B (14.9%), diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (33.3%), measles/mumps/rubella (20.3%), varicella (15.2%), hepatitis A (80.8%), and influenza (15.7%); 89.1% of ICHPs had incomplete vaccination for all proposed vaccines, and 141 ICHPs (37.6%) had comorbidities: obesity (14.4%), hypertension (13.1%), and asthma (8.5%). The most impactful facilitating factors for vaccination adherence were "awareness of the severity of vaccine-preventable diseases," "belief in the benefits of vaccines," and "preserving one's own health." The most impactful hindering factors were "high cost of vaccines," "lack of time for vaccination," and "lack of guidance from the Occupational Medicine department regarding vaccination." Regarding vaccine-preventable diseases, the costs of vaccination schedules were lower than the costs of absenteeism. Conclusions: A low level of adherence to the occupational vaccination schedule was observed among ICHPs. Despite their knowledge of the morbidity and mortality of vaccine-preventable diseases, these professionals do not prioritize complete vaccination as part of their self-care, indicating a lack of monitoring of vaccination adherence by the Occupational Medicine department, leading to illness and impacting healthcare delivery. ICHPs with comorbidities such as obesity and hypertension are more susceptible to illness and require differentiated attention in their vaccination strategy. The novelty of this research, with no similar studies in Brazil, is to highlight a correctable public health problem dependent on vaccine selfcare and a change in the vision of health authorities regarding the importance of vaccinating ICHPs.