Use of a Mandatory Declination Form in a Program for Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce S. Ribner ◽  
Cynthia Hall ◽  
James P. Steinberg ◽  
William A. Bornstein ◽  
Rosette Chakkalakal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Practice Plan ◽  
Job Category ◽  
Vaccination Campaigns ◽  
Nursing Care Facility

Objective.To evaluate the utility and impact of using a declination form in the context of an influenza immunization program for healthcare workers.Methods.A combined form for documentation of vaccination consent, medical contraindication(s) for vaccination, or vaccination declination was used during the 2006-2007 influenza season in a healthcare system employing approximately 9,200 nonphysician employees in 3 hospitals; a skilled nursing care facility; a large, multisite, faculty-practice plan; and an administrative building. Responses were entered into a database that contained files from human resources departments, which allowed correlation with job category and work location.Results.The overall levels of influenza vaccination coverage of employees increased from 43% (3,892 of 9,050) during the 2005-2006 season to 66.5% (6,123 of 9,214) during the 2006-2007 season. Of 9,214 employees, 1,898 (20.6%) signed the declination statement. Among the occupation groups, nurses had the lowest rate of declining vaccination (13.2% [393 of 2,970]; P < .0001), followed by pharmacy personnel (18.1% [40 of 221]), ancillary personnel with frequent patient contact (21.9% [169 of 771), and all others (24.7% [1,296 of 5,252]). Among the employees who declined vaccination, nurses were the least likely to select the reasons “afraid of needles” (3.8% [15 of 393], vs. 9.1% [137 of 1,505] for all other groups; P < .001) and “fear of getting influenza from the vaccine” (13.5% [53 of 393], vs. 20.5% [309 of 1,505]; P = .002). Seven pregnant nurses had been advised by their obstetricians to avoid vaccination. When declination of influenza vaccination was analyzed by age, 16% of personnel (797 of 4,980) 50 years of age and older declined to be vaccinated, compared with 26% of personnel (1,101 of 4,234) younger than 50 years of age {P < .0001).Conclusions.Implementing use of the declination form during the 2006-2007 influenza season was one of several measures that led to a 55% increase in the acceptance of influenza vaccination by healthcare workers in our healthcare system. Although we cannot determine to what degree use of the declination form contributed to the increased rate of vaccination, use of this form helped the vaccination program assess the reasons for declination and will help to focus future vaccination campaigns.

scholarly journals The impact of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic on attitudes of healthcare workers toward seasonal influenza vaccination 2010/11

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Brandt ◽  
H F Rabenau ◽  
S Bornmann ◽  
R Gottschalk ◽  
S Wicker
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
The Public ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
The Impact

The emergence of the influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus provided a major challenge to health services around the world. However, vaccination rates for the public and for healthcare workers (HCWs) have remained low. We performed a study to review the reasons put forward by HCWs to refuse immunisation with the pandemic vaccine in 2009/10 and characterise attitudes in the influenza season 2010/11 due to the emergence of influenza A(H1N1)2009. A survey among HCWs and medical students in the clinical phase of their studies was conducted, using an anonymous questionnaire, at a German university hospital during an influenza vaccination campaign. 1,366 of 3,900 HCWs (35.0%) were vaccinated in the 2010/11 influenza season. Of the vaccinated HCWs, 1,323 (96.9%) completed the questionnaire in addition to 322 vaccinated medical students. Of the 1,645 vaccinees who completed the questionnaire, 712 had not been vaccinated against the influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus in the 2009/10 season. The main reason put forward was the objection to the AS03 adjuvants (239/712, 33.6%). Of the HCWs and students surveyed, 270 of 1,645 (16.4%) stated that the pandemic had influenced their attitude towards vaccination in general. Many German HCWs remained unconvinced of the safety of the pandemic (adjuvanted) influenza vaccine. For this reason, effective risk communication should focus on educating the public and HCWs about influenza vaccine safety and the benefits of vaccination.

scholarly journals Increasing influenza vaccination coverage in healthcare workers: a review on campaign strategies and their effect

Infection ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofie Schumacher ◽  
Jon Salmanton-García ◽  
Oliver A. Cornely ◽  
Sibylle C. Mellinghoff
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Campaign Strategies ◽  
Mandatory Vaccination ◽  
Vaccination Campaigns ◽  
Key Interventions

Abstract Purpose Increasing influenza vaccination coverage in healthcare workers is a challenge. Especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, high vaccination coverage should be attained. This review analyzed strategies to increase influenza vaccination coverage in healthcare workers. Methods A literature search using PubMed was conducted and 32 publications on influenza vaccination campaigns for healthcare workers were reviewed for key interventions and resulting vaccination coverage. Results Among key interventions analyzed, mandatory vaccination policies or multifaceted campaigns including a vaccinate-or-wear-a-mask policy as well as mandatory declination reached vaccination coverage in healthcare workers of over 90%. Although campaigns solely based on education and promotion or on-site-vaccination did not regularly exceed an absolute vaccination coverage of 40%, a substantial relative increase in vaccination coverage was reached by implementation of these strategies. Conclusion Mandatory vaccination policies are effective measures to achieve high overall vaccination coverage. In clinics where policies are infeasible, multifaceted campaigns comprising on-site vaccination, vaccination stands and educational and promotional campaigns as well as incentives should be implemented. Lessons learned from influenza campaigns could be implemented in future SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns.

Influenza vaccination coverage among patients and healthcare workers in a university hospital during the 2006–2007 influenza season

Vaccine ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Landelle ◽  
Philippe Vanhems ◽  
Mitra Saadatian-Elahi ◽  
Nicolas Voirin
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
University Hospital

scholarly journals Non-Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Rates among Healthcare Workers during the 2017–2018 Influenza Season: a Multicenter Study in Korea

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Ji-Man Kang ◽  
Jinhong Lee ◽  
Yoon Soo Park ◽  
Yoonseon Park ◽  
Yee Gyung Kwak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Multicenter Study ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Vaccination Rates

Barriers and facilitators to influenza-like illness absenteeism among healthcare workers in a tertiary-care healthcare system, 2017–2018 influenza season

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Diep Hoang Johnson ◽  
Fauzia Osman ◽  
Jero Bean ◽  
Linda Stevens ◽  
Daniel Shirley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Disciplinary Action ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Inpatient Settings

Abstract Objective: Influenza can be introduced and propagated in healthcare settings by healthcare workers (HCWs) working while ill with influenza. However, reasons driving this behavior are unclear. In this study, we examined barriers to and facilitators of absenteeism during the influenza season. Design: Cross-sectional mixed methods study. Setting: Ambulatory and inpatient settings in a large, tertiary-care healthcare system. Methods: An anonymous electronic survey was sent to HCWs between June 11 and July 13, 2018, asking participants to self-report influenza-like illness (ie, ILI symptoms of fever, chills, cough, or sore throat) during the 2017–2018 influenza season. We conducted a logistical regression analysis to identify factors associated with absenteeism. Results: Of 14,250 HCWs, 17% responded to the survey. Although 1,180 respondents (51%) reported symptoms of ILI, 575 (43%) did not stay home while ill. The most commonly perceived barriers to ILI absenteeism included being understaffed (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; P = .04), unable to find a replacement for work (OR, 2.26; P = .03), desiring not to use time off (OR, 2.25; P = .003), and paid by the hour or unable to afford being absent (OR, 2.05; P = .02). Common perceived facilitators of absenteeism included support from coworkers and management, clearer policy, better sick days availability, and lower perceived threat of disciplinary action. Conclusions: Reporting to work with ILI symptoms is common among HCWs. Most barriers and facilitators are related to systems. Addressing system factors, such as policies regarding sick days and sick leave and ensuring adequate backup staffing, is likely to facilitate absenteeism among ill HCWs.

scholarly journals Assessement of the influenza burden in nursing homes during two influenza seasons

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Qalla-Widmer ◽  
C Petignat
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Vaccination Rates

Abstract Influenza is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly. They are at high risk of complications after influenza virus infection. Data on the epidemiology of influenza within nursing homes (NH) are limited. The purpose of this prospective study was to better describe the burden of influenza among residents of NH of canton of Vaud, Switzerland, with influenza-like illness during 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 influenza seasons. First, we determined the proportion of influenza-like illness due to influenza in NH residents. We specifically assessed the impact of a positive influenza PCR on clinical features, morbidity and mortality, 30 and 90 days after diagnosis, as compared to a negative influenza PCR. Moreover, influenza vaccination rates of the residents and the healthcare workers within each nursing home were assessed at the end of each influenza season. A PCR test was performed on 509 residents from 61 NH. 227 influenza virus infections were diagnosed; 181 influenza A and 46 influenza B. Compared to residents without influenza virus infection (IVI), residents with IVI were more often feverish with a high fever (69.1% and 88.5% respectively, p &lt; 0.0001) are significantly more frequently hospitalized within 30 days after diagnosis (17.6% vs 7.1%, p = 0.0003). Any cause mortality at 30 days was similar in both groups (12.8% vs 10.6%, p = 0.48). Only 18.1% of IVI residents were treated with an antiviral and 60.4% of them received antibiotics. Influenza vaccination rates of the healthcare workers and residents were respectively 50% and 82%. During influenza season, the feverish residents should be suspected to have influenza virus infection. Residents should be diagnosed (PCR) and treated with an antiviral where appropriate to limit the risk of hospitalization. Healthcare workers should be encouraged to be vaccinated against influenza in order to acquire a better herd immunity within the NH which will limit the spread of influenza. Key messages Influenza virus in nursing homes is not treated enough. Influenza virus infection in nursing homes causes a high number of hospitalizations.

Increased Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers at a Pediatric Cancer Hospital: Results of a Comprehensive Influenza Vaccination Campaign

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. McCullers ◽  
Kathleen M. Speck ◽  
Bonnie F. Williams ◽  
Hua Liang ◽  
Joseph Mirro
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Pediatric Cancer ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Direct Patient Care ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Vaccination Acceptance

A comprehensive influenza vaccination campaign improved vaccination rates among healthcare workers with direct patient care responsibilities from 45% during the 2003-2004 influenza season to 80% during the 2004-2005 season. A strategy of weekly feedback to unvaccinated employees was the most important factor in enhancing the rate of vaccination acceptance and was particularly effective among the nursing staff.

Influenza vaccination uptake: past lessons and future implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 266-269
Author(s):  
George Winter
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Vaccination Uptake ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
Vaccination Campaigns

The COVID-19 pandemic has made influenza vaccination for vulnerable populations more important than ever, but uptake rates from previous years are a cause for concern. George Winter discusses the importance of learning from past vaccination campaigns, both for this influenza season and for any future COVID-19 vaccine.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document