Protecting the healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries through vaccination: barriers, leverages, and next steps

ABSTRACT

Healthcare workers play a critical role in providing medical care to individuals and communities. Due to the nature of their work, compared to the general public, healthcare workers are at a higher risk of exposure to infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable ones. The routine vaccination of healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries is a critical issue. Vaccination not only protects healthcare workers from contracting infectious diseases but also prevents the spread of diseases to the patients, reduces healthcare costs, increases healthcare workers’ morale and productivity, and demonstrates a commitment to health and safety. However, the implementation of policies for routine vaccination of healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries faces several challenges, including lack of funds, lack of evidence-based data, vaccination hesitancy through misguided beliefs, and low literacy among healthcare workers. In this article, we discuss the need for a policy for routine vaccination of healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries. We also analyse the barriers and recommendations for policy implementation and the role of partnerships. Additionally, we highlight the main points of the World Federation of Public Health Associations’ policy statement ‘Protecting the Healthcare Workforce in Low- and Middle-Income Countries through Vaccination’ which has the potential to drive policy-makers and healthcare organisations worldwide into prioritising routine vaccination of healthcare workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

KEYWORDS:

• Vaccines
• policy
• health workers
• health
• prevention

Responsible Editor

Stig Wall

Responsible Editor

Stig Wall

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the members of WFPHA International Immunization Policy Taskforce for their advice during various stages of this study. We are also grateful to all participants who shared their opinions with us.

Author contributions

Karla Kroflin performed a literature search, wrote the first draft, collected data, and analysed focus group meetings. Mariana Gonzales Utrilla performed a literature search, wrote the first draft, and analysed focus group meetings. Michael Moore was leading the focus group meetings and he reviewed  drafts. Marta Lomazzi was leading the project, the focus group meetings, reviewed drafts, and supervised all phases of the project.

Disclosure statement

The World Federation of Public Health Associations has received a charitable donation from Pfizer. Authors have no competing interests or other interests that might be perceived to influence the results and/or discussion reported in this paper other than those disclosed below. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. Authors are solely responsible for the content and interpretation.

Paper context

HCWs are at a higher risk of exposure to infectious diseases. The vaccination of HCWs in LICs and LMICs is a critical issue, and the implementation of policies for routine vaccination faces many challenges. We discuss the WFPHA policy statement ‘Protecting the Healthcare Workforce in Low- and Middle-Income Countries through Vaccination’ which has the potential to drive policy-makers and healthcare organisations in prioritising routine vaccination of HCWs worldwide.

Additional information

Funding

The World Federation of Public Health Associations has received a charitable donation from Pfizer. Michael Moore has received travel support and honoraria from Pfizer and MSD.