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Mandatory Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers: A 5-Year Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Robert M. Rakita ,
Beverly A. Hagar ,
Patricia Crome  and
Joyce K. Lammert
Robert M. Rakita
Affiliation:
Section of Infectious Diseases, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
Beverly A. Hagar
Affiliation:
Section of Employee Health, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
Patricia Crome
Affiliation:
Section of Administration, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
Joyce K. Lammert*
Affiliation:
Section of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
*
Section of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 1100 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98111 (Joyce.Lammert@vmmc.org)
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Abstract

Background.

The rate of influenza vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) is low, despite a good rationale and strong recommendations for vaccination from many health organizations.

Objective.

To increase influenza vaccination rates by instituting the first mandatory influenza vaccination program for HCWs.

Design and Setting.

A 5-year study (from 2005 to 2010) at Virginia Mason Medical Center, a tertiary care, multispecialty medical center in Seattle, Washington, with approximately 5,000 employees.

Methods.

All HCWs of the medical center were required to receive influenza vaccination. HCWs who were granted an accommodation for medical or religious reasons were required to wear a mask at work during influenza season. The main outcome measure was rate of influenza vaccination among HCWs.

Results.

In the first year of the program, there were a total of 4,703 HCWs, of whom 4,588 (97.6%) were vaccinated, and influenza vaccination rates of more than 98% were sustained over the subsequent 4 years of our study. Less than 0.7% of HCWs were granted an accommodation for medical or religious reasons and were required to wear a mask at work during influenza season, and less than 0.2% of HCWs refused vaccination and left Virginia Mason Medical Center.

Conclusion.

A mandatory influenza vaccination program for HCWs is feasible, results in extremely high vaccination rates, and can be sustained over the course of several years.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 31 , Issue 9 , September 2010 , pp. 881 - 888
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2010

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Footnotes

*

Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

†

Rona Consulting Group, Seattle, Washington

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