Can Hospitals Do a Better Job of Immunizing Their Healthcare Workers?: the San Diego Hospital Influenza Immunization Project

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation participants will be able to describe the success in 15 hospitals in providing influenza vaccine to their healthcare workers and list the types of interventions used.

Background:
Healthcare worker (HCW) annual influenza immunization coverage rates are inadequate (<50%) in the US. The San Diego Hospital Influenza Immunization Project, a collaborative effort of 15 hospitals, UCSD School of Medicine, and the County of San Diego HHSA Immunization Branch, was formed to raise HCW influenza immunization rates across the entire community.

Objectives:
Document the efforts of 15 hospitals in San Diego County to immunize their HCW's.

Methods:
HCW influenza immunization coverage rates were estimated by three methods: a random digit telephone dialing (RDD) survey, a paper/electronic survey completed by employees, and a tracking form on which hospitals reported the number of vaccines administered. Employee surveys were used to determine attitudes and beliefs concerning influenza vaccination. Key informant interviews were conducted to document specific HCW immunization activities.

Results:
19,612 and 25,348 doses of influenza vaccine were given in SDHIIP hospitals during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 campaigns respectively. Influenza immunization coverage rates for HCWs, as estimated by the RDD survey were 69.2% in 2005-2006 and 70.7% in 2006-2007. Of employees surveyed in 2007, 83.4% were vaccinated in their place of employment: 60.1% in Occupational Health, 9.9% at a mass clinic, 20.4% by a mobile team, and 19.4% in other venues. New approaches to HCW immunization were implemented including the use of LAIV which varied among hospitals from 1- 3,801 doses administered.

Conclusions:
Influenza vaccination rates for hospital-based HCW in San Diego are higher than most published rates. Sharing information between hospitals within a community can improve the approaches to HCW influenza immunization. A significant minority of HCW's are not protected against influenza each year and that number may be slow to change.