ABSTRACT

The choice to be vaccinated results from the environment (physical, biological and social) and the health services provided, rather than the personal decisions of the individuals/guardians. In the study, it is aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of teachers, who are one of the occupational groups that can lead the society in developing countries such as Turkey, and the level of vaccine reliability.

This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in the city center of Eskişehir in the first semester of the 2020 academic year. Schools in the province were stratified as primary and secondary schools. The number of schools to be selected was determined by considering the layers’ weights. From the list of schools, nine primary schools, 12 secondary schools were chosen by random sampling, and 21 schools were selected. Seven hundred fifty-two teachers working in schools chosen and agreeing to participate in the study were included.

There was a weak positive correlation (r=0.277, p=<0.001) between the total scores of the participants on the Vaccine Confidence Scale (VCS) and the total scores from the knowledge questions (r=0.277, p=<0.001), and there was a moderate positive correlation between the total scores from the attitude questions (r=0.440, p=<0.001).

In the study, it was shown that teachers’ knowledge about vaccines is not very high. Still, their confidence about vaccines increases with the training to be given and expanding their knowledge level. It is believed that social immunization will gain momentum with the appointment of teachers at the forefront in the dissemination of vaccination programs.