Improving Healthcare Worker Flu Vaccination Rates

The recommendations ask facilities to monitor influenza vaccination coverage at regular intervals during influenza season and provide feedback of ward-, unit-, and specialty-specific coverage to staff and administration. Influenza vaccination coverage should be one measure of the quality of an institution’s patient safety programs. The guidelines also reiterate an earlier HICPAC recommendation that influenza vaccination coverage of HCWs be used as a healthcare quality measure in states that mandate public reporting of healthcare-associated infections.

“We want healthcare facilities to be even more aggressive in protecting their staff and patients from influenza,” said Denise Cardo, MD, chief of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion in a press release. “Improving influenza vaccine coverage among healthcare personnel is vital to patient safety and protects staff as well.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers the following suggestions on how to boost HCW vaccination rates:⁵

• Send a letter, postcard or email to employees prior to the start of the vaccine season reminding them of the importance of vaccination, where and when they will be able to get the flu vaccine.

• Write something about the flu in the employee newsletter or post information on staff bulletin boards and provide fact sheets with pay stubs to dispel misconceptions and increase acceptance.

• Increase the number of sites where the vaccine is given. Use mobile carts to transport to different clinic areas, service meetings, grand rounds or near cafeteria entrances. This approach can minimize inconvenience as well as means to advertise the vaccine availability. Carts should be stocked with vaccine, safety syringes, vaccine information statements, sharps disposal containers, alcohol hand rub, alcohol wipes, adhesive bandages, documentation forms, and injectable epinephrine with orders for administration in the event of an acute hypersensitivity reaction.

• In late November, identify employees not yet vaccinated and remind them by e-mail or a phone call that the flu vaccine is available.

• Give out buttons or stickers to all staff who are vaccinated.

• Hold an influenza vaccination kick-off event with food and freebies.

According to the VA, key elements of a successful staff flu vaccination campaign include:

• informing employees about the availability of the vaccine

• educating employees about its importance

• making the vaccine convenient

• notifying employees regarding the scheduling of administration

• keeping track of who has been vaccinated

References:

1. Schaffner W. Expanding the influenza vaccination season. Am J Med. Vol 121, No 7B. July 2008.

2. Poland GA and Johnson DR. Increasing influenza vaccination rates: The need

to vaccinate throughout the entire influenza season. Am J Med. Vol 121, No 7B. July 2008.

3. Johnson DR, Nichol KL, and Lipczynski K. Barriers to adult immunization. Am J Med. Vol 121, No 7B. July 2008.

4. Stinchfield K. Practice-proven interventions to increase vaccination rates and broaden the immunization season. Am J Med. Vol 121, No 7B. July 2008.

5. Department of Veterans Affairs. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/flu/flu_hcw.htm

Recommended resource:

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). Accessed at: http://www.nfid.org/influenza/health_professionals.html