Influenza Vaccination of Health Care Personnel
Health and Human Services Initiative
Influenza is a serious disease. Annually, between 5 percent and 20 percent of
the population become ill with influenza and on average more than 200,000 persons
are hospitalized and 36,000 people die. The best way to protect yourself, your
family, and your patients is to get vaccinated against influenza every year.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wants to improve vaccination
rates among Health Care Personnel (HCP) with the goal of reaching the Healthy
People 2010 objective of a 60 percent vaccination rate. In 2006, influenza vaccination
rates were 42% for HCP. As part of this initiative, HHS has asked that all HHS
agencies, including IHS, develop a plan to promote vaccination of HCP with influenza
vaccine, and collect and report data on HCP vaccination coverage to HHS. A toolkit
was designed to provide resources for health care organizations, health care
professionals and HCP leaders to gain valuable information about influenza and
pass it on to their colleagues and employees.
IHS Plan for promoting and reporting influenza vaccination coverage
of Health Care Personnel
In response to the HHS initiative to promote influenza
vaccination of HCP, IHS has developed a plan to report on influenza vaccine coverage
for their HCP. Each IHS Area has designated an Area
Influenza Coordinator
(PDF - 33K) who will work with facilities to collect reports on HCP influenza
vaccination coverage in January 2009 and April 2009. Facility reports will be
aggregated into an Area report and submitted to the IHS Division of Epidemiology.
The Area reports will be used to develop a national IHS report to send to HHS
as part of this initiative. Guidance documents and tracking and reporting forms
have been developed and can be accessed below. In addition, IHS has developed
three PowerPoint presentations about influenza vaccination and HCP. These presentations
can be modified and used by facilities to assist with this initiative.
Please click on the links below to learn more about the IHS reporting process
and the resources that are available.
Guidance and Forms for Tracking and Reporting HCP Influenza Vaccination
- Area Influenza Coordinators
- Facility Influenza Coordinators
IHS PowerPoint Presentations
IHS has developed three power point presentations about influenza and the
importance of HCP influenza vaccination. Each power point presentation has been
designed for the indicated audiences; non-clinical, clinical and CEO. PowerPoint
presentations can be downloaded and modified as needed for use at your facility.
Please click on the links below for the power point presentations.
Declination Forms
Examples of declination forms for HCP who refuse to be vaccinated are included
below, and can be modified for your facility.
Please click on the links below to view the declination forms.
Open Door Forum
On October 23, 2008, the Indian Health Service (IHS) will hold the 10th quarterly
Open Door Forum. The teleconference/WebEx Forum will focus on the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) Initiative for Influenza Vaccination of Health
Care Personnel (HCP). The forum will include a brief overview of the HHS Initiative
and a description of the IHS plan. In addition, you will hear from staff in the
field on the importance of influenza vaccination, policy related to the storing
of HCP medical records in RPMS, and strategies that IHS and tribal facilities
have implemented to promote and report on HCP flu vaccination.
Please click on the link below for more information.
Contact Information
- Amy Groom, IHS Immunization Program
Manager
- Cheyenne
Jim, IHS Immunization Program Assistant
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