Improving influenza vaccination coverage at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana with workplace health promotion project

Seasonal influenza vaccination is one of the keys to preventing the spread of this disease. The seasonal influenza vaccination rate is very low for the general Slovenian population (the average rate from the 2015/16 season to the 2019/20 season is 4.3%) and also for healthcare employees (between 2009 and 2019, the average vaccination rate among healthcare workers in Slovenia was 12.9%), and it does not ensure sufficient community protection from the disease. At the beginning of the 2016/17 season, the University Medical Centre Ljubljana (UMCL) launched its first-ever occupational health promotion project with the slogan “I don’t pass on the flu! I get vaccinated to protect myself and others.” The goal of the project was to reach as many employees as possible and increase the general vaccination rate because those working in healthcare have a significantly greater risk of catching influenza than the rest of the working population. By being vaccinated, they protect not only themselves and their families against the disease, but also their patients. The project encouraged all employees to receive the free vaccination, especially those groups that had had lower vaccination rates over the past years. The support of the institution’s executive staff and the heads of individual divisions was key to securing the required funds and suitable conditions for carrying out the project. Different communication tools were used in the project. The promotion strategy increased vaccination coverage at the UMCL from under 10.0% to 13.9% in 2016, 20.9% in 2017, 21.7% in 2018, and 30.1% in 2019. Workplace health promotion can make a difference. The examples of good practice have made a substantial difference and will be taken into account in planning and organizing vaccination activities during future influenza seasons. This practical model can be used in other hospital settings as well.

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Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage and its determinants among nursing homes personnel in western France

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-017-4556-5 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Christelle Elias ◽

Anna Fournier ◽

Anca Vasiliu ◽

Nicolas Beix ◽

Rémi Demillac ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nursing Homes ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

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Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Patterns Among Pregnant Women in New Mexico

Hispanic Health Care International ◽

10.1177/1540415319896254 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 214-223

Author(s):

Upasana Chalise ◽

Jill A. McDonald ◽

Anup Amatya ◽

Martha Morales

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

New Mexico ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

The United States ◽

Vaccination Rate ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Border States

Introduction: Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for pregnant women, but half of the pregnant women in the United States remain unvaccinated. Vaccine coverage in U.S.–Mexico border states has not been examined in depth even though risk factors for low vaccine coverage exist in these states, especially in the counties bordering Mexico. Method: Using 2012-2014 New Mexico (NM) Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System data, this study examined the weighted annual seasonal influenza vaccination rates and the relationship of various factors to vaccination among NM residents with a live birth during those years. Results: Among respondents, 53.8% were Hispanic, 15.7% were Native American, and 30.5% were non-Hispanic White. The vaccination rate in NM increased from 49.0% in 2012 to 64.8% in 2014. The adjusted odds of vaccination were higher among women whose health care provider recommended/offered vaccination during the year prior to delivery compared to women whose provider did not (AOR = 11.92, 95% confidence interval [CI: 9.86, 14.42]) and among those living in the U.S.–Mexico nonborder counties compared to those living in the border counties (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.18, 1.25]). Conclusion: Efforts to increase the vaccination rate among pregnant women in border states should concentrate on health care providers and the highest risk women, such as those resident in the border region.

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Influenza vaccination campaigns targeted at healthcare workers:results of four hospitals in Rome

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.516 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

A Tognetto ◽

A Abbondanzieri ◽

G Cerone ◽

M Di Pumpo ◽

A Nardi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Teaching Hospitals ◽

Easy Access ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Coverage Rates ◽

Vaccination Campaigns

Abstract Background Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) of health care workers (HCWs) is well recognized as a public health measure that can protect both HCWs from infection and patients from the risk of influenza complications. Nevertheless, vaccination coverage rates among this specific population result generally lower than the recommended target. With our study, we aimed to describe the activities and the outcomes of four different SIV campaigns targeted at HCWs and organized during the season 2018/2019 in four hospitals in Rome. Methods A cross-sectional study involving four teaching hospitals was performed. The collected data were synthetized into a set of descriptors and indicators, validated through a previous study that had involved the same Centers. Results The Medical Directorates, in collaboration with the University Hygiene and Public Health Units of the four hospitals organized different strategies: Hospital 1, 3 and 4 realized educational courses for HCWs and actively promoted the campaigns through e-mail invitations to all HCWs. As for the access to vaccination, all the hospitals provided a dedicated unit for SIV; Hospital 1 and Hospital 4 organized also on-site vaccination sessions in the hospital wards, that required a large number of staff. The vaccination coverage rates resulted: 22.37% in Hospital 1, 18.10% in Hospital 4, 9.28% in Hospital 2 and 8,51% in Hospital 3. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that multi-activity campaigns, involving education, promotion and easy access to vaccination constitute an effective approach to reinforce the value of SIV. Our findings suggest that on-site vaccination may play a key role in determining a higher vaccination coverage. Key messages Multi-activity vaccination campaigns, involving education, promotion and easy access to vaccination constitute an effective approach to reinforce the value of seasonal influenza vaccination for HCWs. On-site vaccination may play a key role in determining a higher vaccination coverage.

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The impact of European vaccination policies on seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates in the elderly

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics ◽

10.4161/hv.18629 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 328-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Patricia Blank ◽

Matthias Schwenkglenks ◽

Thomas D. Szucs

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

The Elderly ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Coverage Rates ◽

The Impact

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Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Coverage Trends Among Adult Populations, U.S., 2010–2016

American Journal of Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.amepre.2019.04.007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 458-469 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Peng-jun Lu ◽

Mei-Chuan Hung ◽

Alissa C. O'Halloran ◽

Helen Ding ◽

Anup Srivastav ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination

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Factors associated with seasonal influenza immunization in people with chronic diseases

Medicinski podmladak ◽

10.5937/mp72-31846 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 72 (2) ◽

pp. 19-25

Author(s):

Slađana Arsenović ◽

Tatjana Gazibara

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Health Care System ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Influenza Immunization ◽

Factors Associated

Annually, at a global level, 3 to 5 million people present severe clinical forms of seasonal influenza and up to 650 000 people die of influenza-related complications. People with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic and metabolic diseases or those reciveing immunosuppressive therapy, constitute a high-risk population group for the development of influenza-related complications, more severe clinical course and poorer health-related outcomes. Due to all of the above, people with chronic diseases are of high priority to receive the influenza vaccine. Immunization represents the key strategy to prevent influenza both in terms of effectiveness and health care costs. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, adequate seasonal influenza immunization coverage among people with chronic diseases is set at 75%. However, few countries achieve this threshold. Understanding predictive factors of vaccination, at different levels of health care delivery (such as individuals, service providers, health policy), is essential to secure acceptance of influenza immunization and achieve the recommended level of vaccination coverage. In this mini review, all the available evidence regarding seasonal influenza vaccination coverage is summarized, alongside factors associated with vaccine uptake in people with chronic diseases as a whole, as well as according to specific diseases such as: cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders, diabetes and cancer. Based on the reviewed empirical evidence, a wide spectrum of factors associated with immunization against influneza was found in people who have chronic diseases. Although diverse, these factors can be systematized into 4 distinctive groups: socio-demographic characteristics, individual attitudes and beliefs, health promoting behaviors and factors related to the health care system. Further efforts are needed to improve the seasonal influenza vaccination coverage. The immunization strategy needs to include the health care system and the community to support people with chronic diseases to continously accept the influenza vaccine.

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