Vaccination Perceptions of Urban School Employees

• We studied Utah urban school employees unvaccinated for influenza question vaccine efficacy.
• Utah urban school employees could not verify receipt of measles, mumps, and rubella booster.
• Almost half of Utah urban school employees favor adult vaccination mandates.
• School employees opposing adult vaccine mandates worry about personal freedoms.

The purpose of this study was to explore public school employee perceptions regarding vaccinations. Employees from 1 urban school district in Utah responded to the School Employees' Perception of Immunizations Questionnaire. Lack of perceived efficacy was the most common explanation for lack of seasonal influenza vaccine. Being unsure of need was the most common reason participants were unvaccinated for measles, mumps, and rubella. The most common reason for rejecting a mandatory vaccine policy was a perceived violation of personal freedoms. Nurse practitioners can positively influence the health of public school employees by ensuring they are properly vaccinated.