Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates of Healthcare Workers at a Non-Profit Community Health Center

Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the interventions utilized to improve the influenza vaccination rate at a Non-Profit Community Health Center.

Background:
Despite the documented benefits of influenza vaccination on patient outcomes, absenteeism, and reducing influenza infection among staff, vaccination coverage among HCW remains low. Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC) has implemented a variety of interventions to increase the flu vaccination rate of their employees.

Objectives:
NEVHC has implemented an annual campaign since 2003 to increase the immunization rate of HCW. A variety of methods have been implemented to determine the most effectiveness strategies.

Methods:
Influenza clinics are scheduled at each of the NEVHC Sites and free influenza vaccinations are offered to employees. Individual incentives such as a “Bee Protected” key chain, and a “Leap to Good Health” memo holder are given to each employee when they receive their flu shot. A department incentive was implemented in the 2006 – 2007 campaign if 90% of the employees at a particular site received the flu shot. An educational campaign was also implemented in the 2007 – 2008 flu season and staff who choose not to receive the flu vaccine were required to complete a declination form.

Results:
Flu immunization rates have increased steadily since 2003. The immunization rate for health care worker in the 2003 – 2004 flu season was 65.2%, it increased to 70% in the 2005 – 2006 flu season, and to 76% in the 2006 – 2007 flu season.

Conclusions:
Incentive programs and education of healthcare workers at a CHC has shown to increase the rate of influenza vaccination. Incentive programs encouraging a departmental goal of 90% can also increase immunization rates. Declination forms were utilized during the 2007 – 2008 campaign, results are pending.