Influenza vaccine uptake among healthcare workers and residents in public health care facilities in Ireland over nine influenza seasons (2011–2012 to 2019–2020)

Abstract

The influenza vaccine is free to all healthcare workers (HCWs) working in hospitals and long-term/residential health care facilities in Ireland. To evaluate influenza vaccine uptake, the Health Service Executive-Health Protection Surveillance Centre surveyed HCWs each season between 2011–2012 and 2019–2020. The national HCW uptake target was 40% for the first six seasons and was increased to 75% for the 2019–2020 season. Data on seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among HCWs employed in these healthcare settings were obtained using web-based surveys sent to occupational or management contact points. Data on numbers of staff vaccinated by Health Service Executive (HSE) professional staff grade and numbers eligible for vaccination in each grade were provided. Since the 2017–2018 season, a point prevalence survey for residents to assess influenza vaccine uptake has also been undertaken in long-term/residential care facilities (LTCFs) and aggregate data submitted, initially using a desktop spreadsheet survey tool, but later using web-based survey tools; these surveys were undertaken to investigate how uptake differed between HCWs and residents, both long-term and short-term.Participation by healthcare facilities and influenza vaccine uptake by both HCWs and LTCF-residents in these surveys increased over the nine seasons. Uptake among HCWs employed in publicly-funded hospitals increased from 18.1% (2011–2012) to 58.9% (2019–2020). Uptake in publicly-funded LTCFs increased from 17.8% (2011–2012) to 45.5% (2019–2020). Overall, uptake among hospital nursing staff was lowest among all staff categories for most seasons, but increased from 12.4% in 2011–2012 to 58.1% in 2019–2020. In all seasons since 2011–2012, medical/dental, management/administrative or health and social care professional staff reported the highest uptake values in public LTCFs. Of the three annual point prevalence surveys between 2017–2018 and 2019–2020, all showed high overall uptake among long-term residents (between 88.9% and 89.4%), and a lower and wider uptake range among respite residents (between 57.5% and 66.5%).