Abstract

Objective: To assess influenza and influenza vaccination perspectives of school teachers in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 777 school teachers in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an online survey disseminated through school managers and educational coordinators, enabling wide distribution among teachers across various schools.
Results: Among 777 participants, the majority correctly identified influenza as a viral infection (n = 671; 86.4%). Regarding symptom recognition, fever (81.6%) was the most commonly identified symptom. Just over half of the participants (n = 437; 56.2%) reported having received the flu vaccine at least once in their lifetime, while a significant portion (n = 340; 43.8%) had never been vaccinated. Only 24.5% (n = 185) received the flu vaccine during the most recent flu season, indicating a low rate of yearly vaccination. The most commonly reported reason was fear of side effects (39.5%, n = 307). Teachers who had ever received the flu vaccine were significantly more likely to have good knowledge (61.8%) compared to those who had never received it (55.0%) (p-value = 0.049). The work area (p-value = 0.013), age (p-value = 0.002), and gender (p-value = 0.009) were significantly associated with vaccination status. Furthermore, previous flu vaccination history was a strong predictor of recent vaccination (p-value = 0.001).
Conclusion: Despite moderate knowledge and generally positive attitudes toward influenza and its vaccination, the actual vaccination rates among school teachers remain low. Targeted health education campaigns should be implemented within school settings to improve teachers’ understanding of influenza risks and the benefits of vaccination.

Key words: Influenza, vaccination, perspectives, school teachers, Saudi Arabia