Co-ordinated approach to healthcare worker influenza vaccination in an area health service

To increase local influenza vaccination uptake among healthcare workers (HCWs), a co-ordinated, area-wide influenza vaccination campaign was undertaken in 2008 for five hospitals in the South Metropolitan Area Health Service of Perth, Western Australia (WA). The programme included standardised marketing and data collection, with a consent form completed by each recipient. Denominator data were obtained from the WA Department of Health's staff database. Vaccination coverage at each hospital was calculated and compared with that of 2007, with predictors for vaccination determined using a follow-up cross-sectional survey. A total of 6387 influenza vaccinations were administered. The coverage rate was above 55% in all but one hospital (range: 48.8-76.5%) whereas in 2007 no hospital achieved 55% (range: 29-51%). Allied health professionals attained the highest coverage (57.7%), followed by doctors (51.9%), nurses (49.6%) and patient support staff (48.6%). Of HCWs who worked half-time or more, 58.8% were vaccinated. The main reasons for vaccination were to prevent influenza, limit spread, and the programme's availability. The survey revealed that HCWs who perceived that they were susceptible to influenza, that it was a serious disease and that immunisation was effective and important were significantly more likely to be vaccinated. An area-wide approach to HCW influenza vaccination can substantially improve uptake. Regular working party meetings, consistent marketing, standardised data collection and analysis, and senior management support were key elements and could be used by others to attain good vaccination coverage among HCWs. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Hospital Infection Society. All rights reserved.