Vaccinating Healthcare Workers
Vaccination of health-care workers (HCWs)
has been shown to reduce influenza infection and absenteeism among HCWs, prevent
mortality in their patients, and result in financial savings to sponsoring
health institutions. Influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs in the United
States, however, remains low.
Organizational Position Statements on Vaccination of Healthcare Workers
American Association of
Physician Assistants
American College of Physicians (ACP)
American Medical Association (AMA): supports vaccination for
influenza,
pertussis and influenza, and
to set
examples for
their adult patients.
American Nurses Association (ANA)
American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHSP)
Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
American Pharmacists Association
Association of Professionals in Infection Control (APIC)
Canadian Government, Province of Ontario
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Hospital Infection Control Practice
Advisory Committee (HICPAC)
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
National Quality Forum (NQF)
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)
Partnership for Prevention
Public Health Agency of Canada: National Advisory Committee on
Immunization
Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Policies for Healthcare
Workers
The best way to prevent transmission of influenza
to those persons we serve is to mandate
vaccination of the healthcare worker. The list below represents just some of the
champions who have
taken the lead in mandating healthcare worker vaccination against influenza on
an annual basis.
Alabama: Code of Alabama § 22-21-10
requires annual
influenza vaccination for all employees of long term care facilities, allowing
for medical
exemptions, religious exemptions, and individual refusal, after being fully informed of the health
risks of not being immunized (effective 2001).
Arkansas: Arkansas Code §§ 20-10-1304-1305
requires that
influenza vaccines be administered to healthcare workers in long-term care
facilities (effective
1999).
California: California Health and Safety Code, Division 2, Chapter 2, Article
3.5
requires all employees in acute care hospitals to be vaccinated against
influenza, or if the
employee elects not to be vaccinated, to declare in writing that he or she has
declined the
vaccination (effective July 1, 2007).
Kentucky: Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 209.550-554 requires all employees in long-term
care facilities be
vaccinated against influenza unless the employee has a medical contraindication,
objects due to
religious beliefs, or refuses the vaccine after being fully informed of the
health risks (effective
July 15, 2002).
U.S. Department of Defense, Civilian Health Care Personnel who Provide Direct
Patient Care in DoD
Military Treatment Facilities
Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Best Practices for Increasing Influenza Vaccination Rates
among Healthcare Workers
The National Influenza Vaccine Summit seeks examples of
programs that have been particularly effective in increasing influenza
vaccination rates of healthcare workers. With their permission, we are posting
an assortment of those who have responded to the Summit's request. If you would
be willing to have your success story listed, please complete the
Healthcare Worker Influenza
Vaccination Program Reporting Form. We will re-confirm the information with
you before it is posted.
Blythedale Children's Hospital, Valhalla, New
York
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula,
Monterey, California
Family HealthCare Network, Visalia, California
Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vermont
Houston Northwest Medical Center, Houston, Texas
Market Square Health Care Center, South Paris,
Maine
Meadow View Terrace, Clarksville, Virginia
Munroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala, Florida
Neosha Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute,
Kansas
North End Rehab and Nursing Center, Boston,
Massachusetts
Ridgeview Place Assisted Living, Sauk Rapids,
Minnesota
Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis,
Missouri
Tool Kits and Other Materials Developed and/or Distributed by State and National
Organizations
American Medical Directors Association (AMDA):
"Immunization in the Long Term Care Setting" tool kit contains sample policies and models to help
long-term care facilities boost vaccination compliance among both residents and
staff, as well as guidance for dealing with influenza outbreaks.
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC):
"Protect Your Patients. Protect Yourself." This toolkit features
a variety of helpful resource materials that can be used to encourage health care institutions to implement or expand their health care worker immunization
programs.
California Adult Immunization Coalition: "Immunization in Long Term and Acute
Care Facilities Campaign –Health Care Worker Initiative" provides
promotional materials, individual tools, comprehensive toolkits, and background
and general information.
Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the
Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP):
"Influenza Vaccination of Health-Care Personnel," contains HICPAC
and ACIP recommendations urging that all healthcare personnel be vaccinated
annually against
influenza.
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO): view
the January 1, 2007 requirement applicable to critical access hospital,
hospital, and long term care facilities to offer flu vaccinations to staff and
licensed independent practitioners.
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Maryland Partnership
for Prevention, Inc.: 2006 Maryland Supplement to Campaigns to Increase
Influenza Vaccinations Among Healthcare Workers [PDF] is a toolkit to
facilitate a successful facility-wide vaccination campaign.
Massachusetts Medical Society: Employee Flu Immunization Campaign Kit,
designed to help hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care settings
protect staff and patients from influenza by increasing health care worker
immunization rates. The kit includes facts, worksheets, promotional materials,
tips, and step-by-step instructions on how to plan and conduct a successful
employee flu immunization campaign.
New!
Michigan Department of Community Health: "Flu Fighter Action Kit." Using the
philosophy that "anyone who shares air with patients should be vaccinated," this
kit offers users a clearly outlined step-by-step approach to increasing the
influenza vaccination rate among healthcare personnel. The kit includes
ready-to-use materials such as planning templates, a campaign calendar and
timeline, and influenza educational resources.
National Foundation for Infectious Disease (NFID) has developed several
excellent monographs on the following issues:
New!
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) developed a toolkit for
DHHS staff to use in promoting healthcare personnel influenza vaccination as
part of its effort to achieve the Healthy People 2010 objective of 60 percent
vaccination coverage for all healthcare personnel.
Helpful Tools
Declination of Influenza Vaccination [PDF]
Use this form to document healthcare worker refusal
to receive vaccination for reasons other than a medical contraindication.
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
First Do No Harm. Protect Patients by Making Sure
All Staff Receive Yearly Influenza Vaccine! [PDF]
Source: Immunization Action Coalition
Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV): The Right Choice
for Healthcare Workers [PDF]
Source: Minnesota Department of Health
Protect Yourself. Protect Your patients.
Get Your Flu Vaccine. [PDF]
Display
this poster in your clinic or other health facility.
Source: Florida Department of Health
Seven Truths About Influenza Vaccination of
Healthcare Workers [PDF]
Adapted from Dr. Greg Poland, Mayo Clinic
Source: Minnesota Department of Health
Implementing a Mandatory Medical Center Influenza Immunization Program -
Insights from Virginia
Mason Medical Center [PDF]
View this presentation given at the 2007 National Influenza Vaccine Summit. |
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