Knowledge, attitudes, and practices around influenza and COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers in Côte d’Ivoire

Respiratory viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2 pose ongoing global health threats, especially within healthcare settings where healthcare workers (HCWs) face elevated risks of exposure. By late 2023, COVID-19 was transitioning from a pandemic to an endemic phase globally and within Côte d’Ivoire, with sustained transmission but reduced severity due to accumulated immunity and vaccination coverage. Despite the World Health Organization’s recommendation to prioritize HCWs for seasonal influenza vaccination, achieving optimal coverage remains a challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Côte d’Ivoire.COVID-19 vaccines were introduced in Côte d’Ivoire in early 2021, with healthcare workers prioritized during the initial phases of the national vaccination campaign, followed by gradual expansion to the general population. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding influenza and COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers in Côte d’Ivoire. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in November 2023 across two urban regions of Côte d’IvoireCôte d’Ivoire to assess HCWs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding influenza and COVID-19 vaccination. A total of 1,454 HCWs were interviewed. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and chi-square tests were used for analysis. Findings revealed that 78% of HCWs perceived influenza as potentially leading to severe illness or death, while 95% held this view for COVID-19. Although 79% considered the influenza vaccine safe, only 58% felt the same about the COVID-19 vaccine. In terms of uptake, 67% had received the influenza vaccine in the most recent season, and 84% had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. HCWs who had received an influenza vaccine before the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly more likely to have received both the most recent influenza vaccine and at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine ( p < 0.001). Older HCWs also demonstrated higher vaccine uptake than their younger counterparts ( p < 0.001). These results underscore the importance of leveraging existing influenza vaccination infrastructure to support broader vaccine acceptance strategies. Improving HCW vaccine coverage can strengthen health system resilience and support pandemic preparedness in the Côte d’Ivoire and similar settings.