How to Increase Health Care Workers Acceptance of Influenza Immunization

Wednesday, 20 August 2014
Exhibit hall (Dena'ina Center)
Marlene M Lugg, DrPH , Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Winnetka, CA
INTRODUCTION:  

Creating a safe and healthy community for health care employees and patients includes emphasizing health care worker influenza immunizations.

METHODS:  

Different methods of encouraging employees to be immunized against the flu were tabulated and studied from 1997 to 2013-14.

RESULTS:  

In 1997, Southern California Kaiser Permanente’s employee vaccination rate was approximately 30%.  Health education was increased and flyers inserted with pay statements.  In 1998, an employee flu vaccination form was instituted, to be returned to the employee’s manger.  If an employee declined the vaccination, one of five reasons was to be checked.  The 1998 employee immunization rate rose to 43.6%.

 In 2007, California’s Health and Safety Code made declination forms mandatory for acute care hospitals.  California Kaiser Permanente in turn made the Flu Declination Form mandatory for ALL employees not wishing to be immunized. However, immunizations still did not reach desired rates.

 By 2012, Kaiser required employees to have the flu vaccine or file a declination form in order to remain employed after March 1.  Employee flu immunization rates rose to 77.68%.

 In October, 2013, the Los Angeles County Health Department ordered that any health care employees who had contact with patients (including receptionists) who were not immunized against flu would be required to wear masks during flu season.  Southern California Kaiser’s Medical Director declared that any medical practitioner not accepting the flu vaccine would required to wear a mask when seeing patients after November 1.

CONCLUSIONS:  

The 2013-14 employee flu vaccination results were not available at abstract deadline time.  In-person monitoring, however, has indicated a definite increase in flu vaccinations, with few physicians wearing masks.  This paper looks at the trend in employee flu vaccinations since 1997, comparing the results of (a) health education, (b) general information forms, (c) mandatory declination forms, (d) treat of non-employment, and (e) Health Department mandated use of masks, to improve employee influenza immunization rates.