Health Care Personnel Initiative to Improve Influenza Vaccination Toolkit

Introduction

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that can be easily spread through person to person contact. Influenza can cause mild to severe illness and in some cases may lead to death. 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. Many professional agencies and organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHCO) recommend annual influenza vaccinations for health care personnel (HCP) because of their increased risk of contracting and transmitting influenza. By being vaccinated, HCP decrease their likelihood of contracting influenza and decrease the chance of infecting others. It is imperative for HCP to set an example for the patients they serve by being vaccinated and also by being informed with the most current influenza information in order to properly educate them.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wants to improve vaccination rates amongst HCP with the goal of reaching the Healthy People 2010 objective of 60 percent vaccination rate. In 2007, vaccination rates were less than 50 percent for HCP. This objective can be achieved by partnering with other organizations to promote influenza vaccination. Therefore, this toolkit was designed to provide numerous resources for health care organizations, health care professional schools, professional health associations, and HCP leaders to gain valuable information about influenza and pass it on to their colleagues and employees. The toolkit is comprised of links to several Web sites (CDC, Food and Drug Administration, NFID, American College of Physicians, and the State of Massachusetts), a presentation, journal articles, fact sheets, and posters to be used for promotion and education about influenza vaccination. The Internet links were all chosen because of their proven success and novel approaches to prevention and education about influenza and influenza vaccination.

For more information about the initiative, please email healthcare.personnel@hhs.gov.

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been conducting various outreach efforts to promote influenza vaccination amongst healthcare personnel (HCP). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, an agency within HHS), the National Influenza Vaccine Summit, along with many other partners will hold the 3^rd annual National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) December 8^th-14^th. Other activities include ongoing media outreach: radio, print materials, television, and even “e-health” or online media are bringing the issue of influenza vaccination to the forefront (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/index.htm).

Incidence rates of influenza usually peak in February. The time to get vaccinated against flu continues beyond the traditional ‘fall’ season into December, January, and later. A cornerstone to flu prevention remains vaccination of health care workers. Friday, December 12^th, has been designated as Health Care Worker Vaccination Day. New posters encouraging nurses and allied health care workers to get vaccinated are available for free download. Many hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes are taking vigorous steps to prioritize vaccination of health care workers, as emphasized by HHS. Local hospitals, long term care facilities, and other partners are conducting in-house vaccination clinics for staff, and developing incentive programs to encourage vaccination. Enter your office’s, institution’s, and/or agency’s efforts on the NIVW page to share your ideas with others!

For additional information, please go to http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/index.htm.

Contents of the Toolkit

Memorandum from the Assistant Secretary for Health [PDF – 73 KB]
Presentation – Influenza Vaccination of Health-care Personnel: Disease, Vaccine, Beliefs, Barriers, and Recommended Strategies to Improve Vaccination [PPT – 512 KB]
Relevant Articles
- Influenza Vaccination of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) [PDF – 626 KB]
- Lugo N. Will carrots or sticks raise influenza immunization rates of health care personnel? Am J Infect Control 2007;35:1-6.
- Hofmann F, Ferracin C, Marsh G, Dumas R. Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers: a Literature Review of Attitudes and Beliefs. Infection 2006;34:142-147 [PDF – 491 KB]
Posters Promoting Health Care Personnel Vaccination
- They Count On You to Get an Influenza Vaccine (CDC)
- Can't Cover My Shift: Flu Doesn't Fight Fair (CDC)
- Vaccinated Against Flu: I Care About YOU (sticker) (CDC)
- Are You Ready? Influenza Season Is Here [PDF – 5.12 MB] (Veterans Administration)
Vaccine Information Statements
- Inactivated Influenza Vaccine: What You Need To Know (CDC)
- Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine: What You Need To Know (CDC)
Fact Sheet – Vaccination Information for Health Care Workers (CDC) [PDF – 86 KB]
Common Questions (and Answers) for Health Care Workers About Flu Vaccine (CDC) [PDF - 87 KB]
Definition of Health Care Personnel
Health Care Personnel Initiative to Improve Influenza Vaccination Meeting, September 10, 2008

Health Care Personnel Initiative to Improve Influenza Vaccination Toolkit

Introduction

Contents of the Toolkit

Related Links for More Information