A user-friendly approach to improving healthcare worker influenza vaccination compliance

Abstract

ISSUE: Vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) is the most effective way to prevent and control influenza in healthcare facilities. Vaccination rates for our facility have been low historically, and so we set out to increase the influenza vaccination rate of healthcare workers in our 100-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital. PROJECT: Baseline influenza vaccination rates were obtained revealing low influenza vaccination compliance. Historically, there has been very little education about influenza vaccination and HCWs were expected to come to the employee health office during operating hours to receive influenza vaccination. The employee health department embarked on a prevaccination educational campaign to educate HCWs on the importance of and dispel myths about influenza vaccination. Educational materials were distributed to each department through unit infection control champion and were posted throughout the facility 1 month before the vaccination campaign. HCWs were also informed via postings that employee health would be hosting the “influenza vaccination roving cart” and would bring vaccinations to employees on their units and during their work hours. The vaccination cart was taken to all departments and individual education was provided and informed consent obtained before vaccination. Each HCW was given a sticker that stated, “I have had my flu vaccine,” and a lollipop after receiving vaccination. RESULTS: Historically, influenza vaccination rates ranged from 15% to 33%. After the educational campaign and the implementation of the “influenza vaccination roving cart,” influenza vaccination compliance improved to 55%. LESSONS LEARNED: Compliance was increased by education of employees about influenza prevention and dispelling myths about influenza vaccination along with delivery of the influenza vaccinations to employees on their units during their work shifts. ISSUE: Vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) is the most effective way to prevent and control influenza in healthcare facilities. Vaccination rates for our facility have been low historically, and so we set out to increase the influenza vaccination rate of healthcare workers in our 100-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital. PROJECT: Baseline influenza vaccination rates were obtained revealing low influenza vaccination compliance. Historically, there has been very little education about influenza vaccination and HCWs were expected to come to the employee health office during operating hours to receive influenza vaccination. The employee health department embarked on a prevaccination educational campaign to educate HCWs on the importance of and dispel myths about influenza vaccination. Educational materials were distributed to each department through unit infection control champion and were posted throughout the facility 1 month before the vaccination campaign. HCWs were also informed via postings that employee health would be hosting the “influenza vaccination roving cart” and would bring vaccinations to employees on their units and during their work hours. The vaccination cart was taken to all departments and individual education was provided and informed consent obtained before vaccination. Each HCW was given a sticker that stated, “I have had my flu vaccine,” and a lollipop after receiving vaccination. RESULTS: Historically, influenza vaccination rates ranged from 15% to 33%. After the educational campaign and the implementation of the “influenza vaccination roving cart,” influenza vaccination compliance improved to 55%. LESSONS LEARNED: Compliance was increased by education of employees about influenza prevention and dispelling myths about influenza vaccination along with delivery of the influenza vaccinations to employees on their units during their work shifts.