Education programs linked to improved HCW influenza vaccination rates

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Education programs can help hospitals to increase the number of health care workers who receive influenza vaccination, according to data presented at the 36th International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, held here this week.

Renee M. Savage, RN, from Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, Conn., presented data that showed the influenza vaccination rate among health care workers (HCW) at her hospital increased 11.9% in the first year following the implementation of a program that included concentrated education and continued availability of the vaccine.

Savage noted the national immunization rate for HCW is between 36% and 40%. During the 2005-2006 influenza season, the rate at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital was 43.8% (1,182 of 2,701 employees). In the fall of 2006, hospital administrators at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital unveiled a plan to improve vaccination rates. They began an “educational blitz,” which included weekly bulletin boards, posters and articles disseminated to employees through various channels.

Following the “educational blitz,” the influenza vaccination rate among HCW at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital was 55.7% (1,582 of 2,802 employees) for the 2006-2007 influenza season. Hospital administrators continued the program and a similar success rate was seen the following year: the influenza vaccination rate for the 2007-2008 influenza season was 55.4% (1,495 of 2,697 employees).

For more information:

• Savage R. #15-173. Presented at: The 36th International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. June 7-11, 2009. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.