Skip Navigation Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC
CDC CDC Home Search Health Topics A-Z
Contact Help Travelers Health n i p Home NIP header
Family

Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 2:25 PM
38

The 2004 Vaccinate (Most of) Your Staff Contest

Erin Owen1, Kim M. Contardi2, Tracy Danos-Healy1, Kathleen W. Gustafson2, Jennifer Danzig3, Suzi Bouveron4, Jan Campana2, Michelle De Guire1, and Mark H. Sawyer1. (1) San Diego Immunization Program, UC San Diego, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, PO Box 85222, Mail Stop P511B, 3851 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, CA, USA, (2) San Diego Immunization Program, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, PO Box 85222, Mail Stop P511B, 3851 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, CA, USA, (3) Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP), 707 Broadway Suite 905, San Diego, CA, USA, (4) Information and Education Section, State of California, Department of Health Services, Immunization Branch, 2151 Berkeley Way, #712, Berkeley, CA, USA


BACKGROUND:
The CDC reports only 36% of healthcare workers (HCW) receive annual influenza vaccinations. Coverage in San Diego County is estimated at 50%. By not receiving the flu shot annually, HCW put themselves, their families and their patients at risk.

OBJECTIVE:
1) To increase influenza vaccination among HCW
2) To provide an incentive for HCW influenza vaccination that would foster competition among private providers and community clinics
3) To provide a forum for sharing the innovative strategies used to vaccinate HCW

METHOD:
Contest rules and eligibility requirements were established in collaboration with the Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) coalition. Community vendors volunteered to donate prizes for practices that achieved the coverage specified. A total of 116 private providers and 41 community clinics were targeted for participation. Coverage rates required for prizes were set at 90% and 80%, respective to the number of eligible employees. Entries were accepted between November 1-19th and could be submitted by mail, fax, or online. Data were also collected to provide a comparison to last year's HCW coverage among participants and volume of flu vaccine given to clients.
Participants with unique, innovative strategies that resulted in high HCW immunization coverage could also enter the Innovative Vaccination Strategies contest to receive a perpetual plaque for their efforts. Winners will receive recognition in a variety of public venues.

RESULT:
Among entries received to date, all participating sites have achieved 100% coverage for eligible employees. Multiple sites indicated that contest incentives resulted in increased coverage compared to the 2003-2004 influenza season.

CONCLUSION:
Community collaboration can result in a low-cost initiative that positively impacts influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1) Identify tools and methods for approaching community partners

2) Outline the framework for a HCW incentive contest that could be applied locally

See more of Health Communications Workshop: Using Community Partnerships to Promote Influenza Immunization
See more of The 39th National Immunization Conference (NIC)