Memorandum from the Assistant Secretary for Health

[May 29, 2008]

I am requesting your assistance in implementing the Departmental initiative for the 2008-09 influenza vaccination season to improve Health Care Personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination levels. The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) has formed a task force of relevant OPDIVs and STAFFDIVs, and discussed current activities promoting and/or providing HCP influenza vaccination. The task force has developed the attached toolkit for OPDIVs and STAFFDIVs for use in promoting HCP influenza vaccination. I urge you to use the toolkit and related strategies to improve vaccination levels of health care personnel in your OPDIV or STAFFDIV. The rationale for this initiative and strategies are fully discussed in the recommendations for influenza vaccination of HCP of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5502a1.htm).

The Department is striving to achieve the Healthy People 2010 objective of 60 percent vaccination coverage for HCP, both for employee HCP, and those outside of the Department. The toolkit, and other materials to assist you, are available at www.hhs.gov/ophs/. We will pay particular attention to measuring activities promoting influenza vaccination, and vaccination rates for HCP. For further information about this initiative, please contact CAPT Raymond Strikas at 202-260-2652, or at Raymond.strikas@psc.hhs.gov.

Thank you for your assistance in this important effort.

/signed/ Donald Wright, M.D., for Joxel Garcia

Joxel Garcia, M.D., M.B.A.

U.S. Public Health Service