Publication date: Apr 24, 2025

Background/Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccination compliance among nurses in Israel was significantly lower than in previous years. This study sought to evaluate factors associated with vaccination compliance. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey conducted in March-April 2022 among 386 Israeli nurses examined perceived disease threat, vaccination barriers, perceived vaccine benefits, attitudes, and subjective norms/social influences. Results: During the 2021/2022 winter season, the vaccination rate for COVID-19 was higher than for influenza (68. 4% vs. 61. 9%). For both, vaccination compliance was positively associated with perceived susceptibility and severity, perceived benefits, and supporting attitude and negatively associated with barriers. The odds for COVID-19 vaccination were higher among older (OR = 1. 04, 95% CI = 1. 02, 1. 07, p < 0. 001) and more experienced nurses (age and years of experience, r = 0. 89, p < 0. 001). For both, perceived susceptibility and severity were higher among female nurses (influenza M = 3. 29 SD = 0. 88; COVID-19 M = 3. 65 SD = 0. 83) than male nurses (influenza M = 3. 03 SD = 0. 90; COVID-19 M = 3. 32 SD = 0. 83). A model assessing the associations between COVID-19-related variables and influenza vaccination compliance found that higher perceived susceptibility and severity regarding COVID-19, lower perceived barriers to COVID-19 vaccination, and more supportive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination were related to a greater likelihood of influenza vaccination compliance. Conclusions: Perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and attitudes made a significantly greater contribution to influenza vaccination than to COVID-19 vaccination, whereas perceived benefits made a significantly greater contribution to COVID-19 vaccination than to influenza vaccination.

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