Abstract
Healthcare personnel (HCP) are a high priority group for influenza vaccination aiming to protect them but also to protect vulnerable patients and healthcare services from healthcare-associated influenza and HCP absenteeism. Multi-component influenza vaccination programs targeting behavioral, organizational, and administrative barriers are critical, if influenza vaccination rates among HCP are to be raised on a sustained basis. Mandatory influenza vaccination policy is the only single intervention that can achieve high and sustainable vaccination rates in HCP in short term. In this article, we provide an overview of issues pertaining to influenza vaccination of HCP, with an emphasis on organizational issues of influenza vaccination programs.
Highlights
Influenza vaccine uptake rates among Healthcare personnel (HCP) remain low in almost all countries, with the notable exemption of the United States (US) where mandatory vaccination policies were successfully implemented the past decade [10,22,23]. In this perspective we provide our view on issues pertaining to influenza vaccination of HCP, with an emphasis on organizational issues of influenza vaccination programs
Evidence-based knowledge and actions to surpass or eliminate barriers of HCP to comply with influenza vaccination recommendations at the level of the specific healthcare facility are critical
A multi-center study conducted by Frederick et al over three influenza seasons showed that the implementation of mandatory influenza vaccination policies was associated with a reduction by one third of symptomatic absenteeism among HCP during influenza season [20]
Summary
Influenza is a significant cause of morbidity, fatalities, and use of healthcare services globally. Infection control capacity has largely improved in healthcare facilities the past decade, healthcare-associated influenza and outbreaks are common, even among high-risk patients [2,3,4]. Influenza vaccine uptake rates among HCP remain low in almost all countries, with the notable exemption of the United States (US) where mandatory vaccination policies were successfully implemented the past decade [10,22,23]. In this perspective we provide our view on issues pertaining to influenza vaccination of HCP, with an emphasis on organizational issues of influenza vaccination programs
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