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

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 < 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.

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

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/500003 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 77-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

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.

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Mandatory Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers: A 5-Year Study

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/656210 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 31 (9) ◽

pp. 881-888 ◽

Cited By ~ 169

Author(s):

Robert M. Rakita ◽

Beverly A. Hagar ◽

Patricia Crome ◽

Joyce K. Lammert

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Medical Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Vaccination Program ◽

First Year ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Religious Reasons ◽

To Receive

Background.The rate of influenza vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) is low, despite a good rationale and strong recommendations for vaccination from many health organizations.Objective.To increase influenza vaccination rates by instituting the first mandatory influenza vaccination program for HCWs.Design and Setting.A 5-year study (from 2005 to 2010) at Virginia Mason Medical Center, a tertiary care, multispecialty medical center in Seattle, Washington, with approximately 5,000 employees.Methods.All HCWs of the medical center were required to receive influenza vaccination. HCWs who were granted an accommodation for medical or religious reasons were required to wear a mask at work during influenza season. The main outcome measure was rate of influenza vaccination among HCWs.Results.In the first year of the program, there were a total of 4,703 HCWs, of whom 4,588 (97.6%) were vaccinated, and influenza vaccination rates of more than 98% were sustained over the subsequent 4 years of our study. Less than 0.7% of HCWs were granted an accommodation for medical or religious reasons and were required to wear a mask at work during influenza season, and less than 0.2% of HCWs refused vaccination and left Virginia Mason Medical Center.Conclusion.A mandatory influenza vaccination program for HCWs is feasible, results in extremely high vaccination rates, and can be sustained over the course of several years.

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

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/ese.16.17.19854-en ◽

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.

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Factors That Influenced Rates of Influenza Vaccination Among Employees of Wisconsin Acute Care Hospitals and Nursing Homes During the 2005-2006 Influenza Season

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/523866 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 28 (12) ◽

pp. 1398-1400 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Gwen Borlaug ◽

Alexandra Newman ◽

John Pfister ◽

Jeffrey P. Davis

Keyword(s):

Nursing Homes ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Acute Care ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Acute Care Hospitals ◽

Vaccination Programs ◽

Vaccination Rates

Hospitals and nursing homes were surveyed in 2006 to obtain information on employee influenza vaccination programs and baseline rates of influenza vaccination among employees. Results were used to make recommendations for improving employees' 2007 influenza vaccination rates. Facilities should continue to provide convenient and free vaccination programs, offer education to promote vaccination, and use signed declination forms.

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Promotion of the influenza vaccination to hospital staff during pre-employment health check: a prospective, randomised, controlled trial

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology ◽

10.1186/s12995-020-00285-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Michael Currat ◽

Catherine Lazor-Blanchet ◽

Giorgio Zanetti

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Vaccination Rate ◽

Health Check ◽

Control Group ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Newly Hired

Abstract Background Vaccination is the most effective prevention of seasonal influenza. Despite its recommendation and active promotion, vaccination coverage remains low among healthcare staff. The goal of the study was to test if a pre-employment health check is a good opportunity to promote future vaccination against influenza among healthcare workers newly hired by a university hospital. Methods All new hospital employees active at the bedside who underwent a pre-employment health check between the end of 2016’s influenza epidemic and the start of the next influenza vaccination campaign were randomly allocated to a control group or an intervention group. The intervention consisted of a semi-structured dialog and the release of an information leaflet about influenza and influenza vaccination during the check-up, and the shipment of a postcard reminder 2 weeks before the next vaccination campaign. Vaccination rates during the campaign were compared among the two groups. Results Three hundred fifty-seven employees were included. Vaccination rates were similar in both groups: 79/172 (46%) in the control and 92/185 (50%) in the intervention group. A significantly higher rate of vaccination was noted among physicians (70/117, 60%) than among other employees (101/240, 42%, p = 0.001). In a pre-defined exploratory analysis among physicians, the vaccination rate was higher in the intervention group (36/51, 71%) than in the control group (34/65, 52%, p = 0.046). Conclusions Promotion of the influenza vaccine during pre-employment health check did not improve the vaccination rate of newly hired hospital healthcare workers overall during the next influenza vaccination campaign. Results suggest a favourable impact on the vaccination rate of physicians. Thus, there may be an interest in using communication strategies tailored to the different categories of healthcare workers to promote the influenza vaccine during pre-employment health check. Trial registration ClinicalTrials, NCT02758145. Registered 26 April 2016.

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Evaluation of Influenza Vaccination Rates and Use of Parent Reminder Cards in Three-Year-Old Children With Annual Well-Child Visits Outside the Influenza Season in an Outpatient Pediatric Center

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofw172.627 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Hiba Chehab ◽

Michael McKenna

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Influenza Season ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Pediatric Center

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Influenza vaccination rates, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of healthcare workers in Turkey: A multicentre study

International Journal of Clinical Practice ◽

10.1111/ijcp.13659 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nesibe Korkmaz ◽

Selçuk Nazik ◽

Raziye Ş. Gümüştakım ◽

Hanife Uzar ◽

Gülnur Kul ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multicentre Study ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Vaccination Rates

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Association of State Laws and Healthcare Workers’ Influenza Vaccination Rates

Journal of the National Medical Association ◽

10.1016/j.jnma.2015.12.013 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 108 (1) ◽

pp. 99-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Chyongchiou Jeng Lin ◽

Mary Patricia Nowalk ◽

Mahlon Raymund ◽

Patricia M. Sweeney ◽

Richard K. Zimmerman

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

State Laws ◽

Vaccination Rates

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Relationship of Influenza Vaccination Declination Statements and Influenza Vaccination Rates for Healthcare Workers in 22 US Hospitals

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/588590 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 675-677 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Philip M. Polgreen ◽

Edward J. Septimus ◽

Michael F. Parry ◽

Susan E. Beekmann ◽

Joseph E. Cavanaugh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Relationship Of

The use of declination statements was associated with a mean increase of 11.6% in influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers at 22 hospitals. In most hospitals, there were no negative consequences for healthcare workers who refused to sign the forms, and most policies were implemented along with other interventions designed to increase vaccination rates.

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