Characterizing the acceptability of a vaccine for West Nile virus by public health practitioners

Abstract

This study examines health care personnel's knowledge of West Nile virus (WNv) and attitudes towards a proposed chimeric yellow fever/WNv vaccine within the province of Saskatchewan. Telephone and in-person interviews with medical health officers and public health nurses provided information with which to assess the acceptability of implementing vaccination as a component for prevention of WNv within the province with the highest number of WNv cases to date in western Canada. The majority of health care professionals felt confident in the potential efficacy of vaccination for prevention of WNv but suggested that targeted vaccination programs could be most effective.