Recommendations and requirements for vaccination of healthcare personnel and links to useful tool kits and related resources to get the job done!

Vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP) has been shown to reduce influenza infection and absenteeism among HCP, prevent mortality in their patients, and result in financial savings to sponsoring health institutions. Influenza vaccination coverage among HCP in the United States, however, remains low.

BEST PRACTICES

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit seeks examples of programs that have been particularly effective in increasing influenza vaccination rates of healthcare workers. With their permission, we are posting an assortment of those who have responded to the Summit’s request.

Blythedale Children’s Hospital, Valhalla, New York

Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Monterey, California

Family HealthCare Network, Visalia, California

Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vermont

Houston Northwest Medical Center, Houston, Texas

Market Square Health Care Center, South Paris, Maine

Meadow View Terrace, Clarksville, Virginia

Munroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala, Florida

Neosha Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute, Kansas

North End Rehab and Nursing Center, Boston, Massachusetts

Ridgeview Place Assisted Living, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri

VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS

Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – United States, 2019–2020 Influenza Season
MMWR, August 23, 2019 / 68(3);1–21

Immunization of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
Official vaccine (including influenza) recommendations for health-care personnel from the ACIP
MMWR, November 25, 2011/ 60(RR07); 1–45.

COLLECTED RESOURCES

Influenza Vaccination: A Summary for Clinicians
A summary of recommendations for influenza vaccine administration
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Healthcare Workers: This web section provides links to immunization recommendations, infection control information, publications, flyers, posters, surveillance information, and state immunization laws.

Immunization Action Coalition: Healthcare Workers: This web section provides links to immunization recommendations, handouts for patients and staff, state immunization laws, vaccine information statements, and more.

TOOL KITS

American Medical Directors Association (AMDA): “Immunization in the Long Term Care Setting”
This tool kit contains sample policies and models to help long-term care facilities boost vaccination compliance among both residents and staff, as well as guidance for dealing with influenza outbreaks.

Joint Commission:”Providing a Safer Environment for Health Care Personnel and Patients through Influenza Vaccination: Strategies from Research and Practice”
This monograph was developed by the Joint Commission in collaboration with other national partners (i.e., APIC, CDC, NFID, SHEA).

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Maryland Partnership for Prevention, Inc.: Maryland Healthcare Personnel Immunization Initiative
This initiative was undertaken to raise vaccination rates among healthcare workers by providing resources to support, facility-wide employee influenza vaccination campaigns, and rewarding immunization excellence in health care facilities. The initiative subsequently won a special recognition award in 2009 for a Coalition Campaign from the National Influenza Vaccine Summit. View presentation slides from the 2009 National Immunization Conference here.

Michigan Department of Community Health: “Flu Fighter Action Kit.”
Using the philosophy that “anyone who shares air with patients should be vaccinated,” this kit offers users a clearly outlined step-by-step approach to increasing the influenza vaccination rate among healthcare personnel. The kit includes ready-to-use materials such as planning templates, a campaign calendar and timeline, and influenza educational resources.

Minnesota Department of Health: FluSafe: Vaccinating Staff, Protecting Patients
This site covers strategies, tools, and resources to assist with healthcare worker vaccination programs.

Requiring Influenza Vaccination for Health Care Workers: Seven truths we must accept
Editorial by Dr. Greg Poland, Mayo Clinic

HELPFUL FORMS

First Do No Harm. Mandatory influenza vaccination policies for healthcare personnel (HCP) helps protect patients [PDF]
Source: Immunization Action Coalition

Declination of Influenza Vaccination
Use this form to document healthcare worker refusal to receive vaccination for reasons other than a medical contraindication.
Source: Immunization Action Coalition

POSTERS

I Won’t Spread Flu to My Patients or My Family
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention