Background and objectives: In Yemen, there is currently no specific/published guideline for influenza vaccination. In addition, data on knowledge, attitude, and practice, regarding influenza vaccination among HCWs in Yemen is still not studied yet. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice, and barriers regarding influenza vaccination among HCWs in Yemen. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional KAP study was conducted among HCWS in public and private health care sectors located in Southern-Eastern part of Yemen. The Online Raosoft software was used for sample size calculation. If an adequate knowledge level of 50% among HCWs for a maximum sample size with a margin of error of ±5% and 95% confidence interval, the required sample size was 415 after adding 10% for incomplete responses. The convenience sampling method was used to represent the different geographical locations. A self-structured questionnaire was adapted from various previous studies in Yemen and other surrounding countries regarding influenza vaccines. The questionnaire was modified following an evaluation of technical detail and cultural appropriateness by MOPH&P research Committee and cleared by WHO ethical committee. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the findings of the study regarding seasonal influenza and influenza vaccination. Results: A total of 415 HCWs participated in the study with a 100% response rate. The mean age of participants was 37 years (SD = 10.7) and most of the participants were young adult between 20-35 years (50.6%), out of them were female (37.8%). 64.1% of responders declared poor knowledge toward influenza vaccines. However, most of the responders 373 (89.9%) had never been vaccinated. Lack of knowledge about the disease and the vaccine (205, 49.4%) and lacking trust in the health system (128, 30.8%) were the mean reasons for no vaccination among study participants. A greater proportion of responders cited that, the means source of information about influenza vaccination is HCWs (310=74.7%). A 62.2% of participants believed that Influenza vaccine is important and should be taken yearly. The majority of the participants declared their positive acceptance 279= 67 %. Conclusion: This study highlights the fact that generally acceptance of influenza vaccination of healthcare workers in Yemen, and the need to increase efforts and awareness in the community including health care workers regarding influenza illness and vaccination to reduce seasonal influenza morbidity and mortality and consequently the economic and social burden. The findings of the current study could help devise an immunization policy for HCWs in Yemen.

Background and objectives: To re-activate infuneza sentinel surveillance system in Yemen after disruption related to repurposing for COVID-19 pandemic. WHO Country Office (CO) in collaboration with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population (MOPH&P) jointly conducted an assessment mission to assess the current situation of the influenza sentinel surveillance system and assess its capacity to detect influenza epidemics and monitor trends in circulating influenza and other respiratory viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential. This study presents the results of the assessment for three sentinel sites located in Aden, Taiz and Hadramout/Mukalla. Methodology: A mixed methods approach was used to guide the assessment process and to help achieve the objectives. Data was collected as follows: desk review of the sentinel sites records and data; interviews with stakeholders, including key informants and partners; and direct observation through field visits to the sentinel sites, MOPH&P and the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL). Two assessment checklists were used: assessment of sentinel sites for SARI surveillance, and checklist for assessment of availability of SARI sentinel surveillance. Results and conclusion: COVID19 has affected health systems and services, and this was demonstrated in this assessment. The influenza sentinel surveillance system in Yemen is not effectively functional, however there’s plenty of room for improvement if investment in the system’s restructuring, training, building technical and laboratory capacities, and conducting continuous and regular supervision visits.