Assessing Influenza Vaccine Adherence Among Pregnant Women: A Health Center-Based Study in Qatar

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) issues recommendations regarding influenza vaccine utilization, with a focus on safeguarding the most vulnerable and high-risk segments of the population against severe disease [1]. WHO's policy report on influenza vaccine, published in 2022, specifically designates pregnant women as a priority group for nations expanding their influenza vaccination initiatives, underlining the vaccine's capacity to confer protection to both mothers and their newborns for up to six months postpartum, shielding them from influenza infections [2]. Extensive evidence attests to the safety of administering influenza vaccines to pregnant women, with studies revealing a substantial reduction in laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, ranging from 35% to 70% for mothers and 28% to 61% for infants under six months of age [3,5]. The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in Qatar recommends that pregnant women receive a single dose of the influenza vaccine during any trimester of pregnancy, and this guidance is implemented across Antenatal clinics, including the Rawadat al Khail Health Center. Adherence to both local and WHO guidelines in clinical practice is of paramount importance. Thus, this study endeavors to ascertain the degree of adherence exhibited by healthcare professionals and pregnant women to the recommendations pertaining to influenza vaccination during pregnancy.