Influenza Vaccination in Long-Term–Care Facilities: Structuring Programs for Success

Abstract

Well-organized influenza vaccination programs increase the influenza vaccination rates of residents in Canadian LTCFs. Facilities need to develop resident vaccination programs further and to focus on vaccinating staff.

Mandatory Influenza Vaccination of Health Care Workers: Translating Policy to Practice

“…The US National Health objectives for 2010 include a health care worker influenza vaccination rate of 60%. Recommended practices to improve vaccination rates include making the vaccine available without charge to employees at multiple convenient sites and times, using incentives and rewards, and having visible leadership support [21,[24][25][26][27]. More recently, declination statements have been suggested as a way to increase vaccination rates.…”

Prevalence of influenza vaccination in South Australian aged care homes

“…15 The majority of ACHs in this study (94.0%) obtained consent on an ad hoc basis (that is, consent obtained at the appropriate time of year for the influenza immunisation), rather than on admission and only 16.0% of homes had the influenza vaccination as part of their standing drug orders. Obtaining valid consent each year would still be required as part of legislative requirements, but by noting an agreement (or not) to ask about vaccination at the appropriate time on admission and the addition of the vaccine to standing drug orders could be enacted to simplify the procedure.…”

“…This study demonstrated an immunisation rate of 88.4% in SA aged care homes, which compares well with influenza immunisation coverage rates determined in international studies of between 77% and 91%. 6,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] This is the first epidemiologically based estimate of influenza vaccine coverage in SA for a population of ACH residents and is the first undertaken in Australia since the 1992 Victorian study. 21 The prevalence rate of 88.4% in SA is markedly higher than the mean vaccination rate of 52% of residents found in Victoria.…”

“…Evidence suggests that effectively implemented ACH policies and procedures for annual immunisation of residents improves the rate of vaccination. 15 Clarification of vaccination procedures and the provision of influenza immunisation by ACH employers to their staff will improve uptake by staff and assist in the reduction of influenza occurrence in the resident population.…”

“…International studies indicate influenza immunisation coverage of between 77% and 91% among residents of nursing homesScotland (85%), 12 Canada (78-91%), [13][14][15][16] New Zealand (74-76%), 17 The Netherlands (86%), 18 Wales (77%) 19,20 and USA (83%). 6 Within Australia, no relevant studies have been published since a 1992 study conducted in Victoria reported a mean of 52% of residents per facility (n=124) were vaccinated against influenza.…”