Revised SHEA Position Paper: Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel

Abstract

Executive SummaryThis document serves as an update and companion piece to the 2005 Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Position Paper entitled “Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers and Vaccine Allocation for Healthcare Workers During Vaccine Shortages.” In large part, the discussion about the rationale for influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP), the strategies designed to improve influenza vaccination rates in this population, and the recommendations made in the 2005 paper still stand. This position paper notes new evidence released since publication of the 2005 paper and strengthens SHEA's position on the importance of influenza vaccination of HCP. This document does not discuss vaccine allocation during times of vaccine shortage, because the 2005 SHEA Position Paper still serves as the Society's official statement on that issue.

Parental Perceptions about Required Influenza Immunization of Pediatric Healthcare Personnel

“…3 In 2010, the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America endorsed a policy requiring HCP annual influenza vaccination. 4 Since that time, many hospitals now require annual influenza vaccination as a condition of HCP employment, resulting in influenza vaccination coverage greater than 95%. 3,4 With only 62% of HCP reporting that their hospital employers require influenza vaccination, a significant number of hospitals have yet to adopt this recommendation.…”

“…4 Since that time, many hospitals now require annual influenza vaccination as a condition of HCP employment, resulting in influenza vaccination coverage greater than 95%. 3,4 With only 62% of HCP reporting that their hospital employers require influenza vaccination, a significant number of hospitals have yet to adopt this recommendation. 3 HCP resistance to vaccination is an important barrier to hospitals requiring annual influenza vaccination and must be overcome to facilitate successful implementation.…”

“…3 HCP resistance to vaccination is an important barrier to hospitals requiring annual influenza vaccination and must be overcome to facilitate successful implementation. 4 Perceived social norm has been cited as an independent predictor of HCP vaccinating themselves and parents vaccinating their children against influenza. 6,7 Social norms are based on the shared beliefs held by the majority of individuals and provide informal understandings that guide society's behavior.…”

“…3 To consistently reach high rates of HCP influenza vaccination, many hospitals now require annual influenza vaccination of their staff. Hospitals implementing mandatory HCP vaccination have achieved over 95% vaccination coverage, 3,4 whereas hospitals that have not implemented such policies have achieved only 78% coverage. 3 At Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH), HCP influenza vaccination coverage between 2007 and 2010 ranged from 65% to 85%.…”

Sustaining High Influenza Vaccination Compliance with a Mandatory Masking Program

“…8 And while SHEA's position paper clearly endorses mandatory vaccination programs, regarding mandatory masking policies SHEA "believes there is potential utility for this strategy" but cites potential logistical issues with enforcement. 9 What remained unclear, however, was whether both mandatory masking and mandatory vaccination programs could produce results that were equally sustainable and easily adaptable to all settings. Rakita et al 2 showed consistently high vaccination compliance with a mandatory vaccine program over a 5-year period.…”