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UPenn Fights Influenza: Baby, Be Wise -- Immunize! Using song and lyrics to raise awareness of the importance of influenza vaccination for HCWs, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania created this 5-minute video featuring scores of employees lip-synching to a doo-wop beat.

Information for Healthcare Professionals Influenza - prevent a bad disease with a good vaccine! Vaccinating Healthcare Workers Vaccination of health-care workers (HCWs) has been shown to reduce influenza infection and absenteeism among HCWs, prevent mortality in their patients, and result in financial savings to sponsoring health institutions. Influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs in the United States, however, remains low. Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Policies for Healthcare Workers The best way to prevent transmission of influenza to those persons we serve is to mandate vaccination of the healthcare worker. The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) maintains a list of champions who have taken the lead in mandating healthcare worker vaccination against influenza on an annual basis. Visit the Honor Roll for Patient Safety to access organizational position statements on mandatory influenza vaccination for healthcare personnel. Join the Honor Roll Today Fill out this online form to tell IAC about influenza vaccination mandates in your healthcare setting Best Practices for Increasing Influenza Vaccination Rates among Healthcare Workers The National Influenza Vaccine Summit seeks examples of programs that have been particularly effective in increasing influenza vaccination rates of healthcare workers. With their permission, we are posting an assortment of those who have responded to the Summit's request. Blythedale Children's Hospital, Valhalla, New York Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Monterey, California Family HealthCare Network, Visalia, California Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vermont Houston Northwest Medical Center, Houston, Texas Market Square Health Care Center, South Paris, Maine Meadow View Terrace, Clarksville, Virginia Munroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala, Florida Neosha Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute, Kansas North End Rehab and Nursing Center, Boston, Massachusetts Ridgeview Place Assisted Living, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri Tool Kits and Other Materials Developed and/or Distributed by State and National Organizations American Medical Directors Association (AMDA): "Immunization in the Long Term Care Setting" tool kit contains sample policies and models to help long-term care facilities boost vaccination compliance among both residents and staff, as well as guidance for dealing with influenza outbreaks. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) – Immunization of Health-Care Personnel This document includes influenza-specific recommendations from the ACIP. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Flu Vaccination Pledge for the 2012-2013 Season Use this tool to have healthcare workers "take the pledge" to be vaccinated this season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Healthcare Workers: This summary website provides links to immunization recommendations, infection control information, publications, flyers, posters, surveillance information, and state immunization laws. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health-Care Personnel – 2011–12 Influenza Season, United States This MMWR article provides estimates of influenza vaccination coverage and related data among health-care personnel for the 2011-12 influenza season. Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) "Influenza Vaccination of Health-Care Personnel," contains HICPAC and ACIP recommendations urging that all healthcare personnel be vaccinated annually against influenza. Joint Commission (formerly known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations): view its monograph "Providing a Safer Environment for Health Care Personnel and Patients through Influenza Vaccination: Strategies from Research and Practice," put together by the Joint Commission in collaboration with other national partners (i.e., APIC, CDC, NFID, SHEA). Joint Commission: Flu Vaccination Challenge This site includes information on best practices, slide, posters, stickers, and other helpful resources for improving influenza vaccine coverage in healthcare facilities. Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Maryland Partnership for Prevention, Inc.: Maryland Healthcare Personnel Immunization Initiative was undertaken to raise vaccination rates among health care workers by providing resources to support, facility-wide employee influenza vaccination campaigns, and rewarding immunization excellence in health care facilities. The initiative subsequently won a special recognition award in 2009 for a Coalition Campaign from the National Influenza Vaccine Summit. View presentation slides from the 2009 National Immunization Conference here. Massachusetts Medical Society: Employee Flu Immunization Campaign Kit, designed to help hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care settings protect staff and patients from influenza by increasing health care worker immunization rates. The kit includes facts, worksheets, promotional materials, tips, and step-by-step instructions on how to plan and conduct a successful employee flu immunization campaign. New! Michigan Department of Community Health: "Flu Fighter Action Kit." Using the philosophy that "anyone who shares air with patients should be vaccinated," this kit offers users a clearly outlined step-by-step approach to increasing the influenza vaccination rate among healthcare personnel. The kit includes ready-to-use materials such as planning templates, a campaign calendar and timeline, and influenza educational resources. Minnesota Department of Health: FluSafe – Vaccinating Staff, Protecting Patients This site covers strategies, tools, and resources to assist with healthcare worker vaccination programs. National Foundation for Infectious Disease (NFID) has developed several excellent monographs on the following issues: Vaccination of Children - Increasing Influenza Immunization Rates in Infants and Children: Putting Recommendations in to Practice - Improving Childhood Influenza Immunization Rates to Protect Our Nation's Children Vaccination of Healthcare Workers - Influenza Immunization Among Health Care Workers - A Call to Action - Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates in Health Care Personnel - Immunizing Healthcare Personnel Against Influenza: A Report on Best Practices U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) developed a toolkit for DHHS staff to use in promoting healthcare personnel influenza vaccination as part of its effort to achieve the Healthy People 2010 objective of 60 percent vaccination coverage for all healthcare personnel. Helpful Tools Declination of Influenza Vaccination [PDF] Use this form to document healthcare worker refusal to receive vaccination for reasons other than a medical contraindication. Source: Immunization Action Coalition First Do No Harm. Protect Patients by Making Sure All Staff Receive Yearly Influenza Vaccine! [PDF] Source: Immunization Action Coalition I Won't Spread Flu to My Patients or My Family Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Protect Yourself. Protect Your patients. Get Your Flu Vaccine. [PDF] Display this poster in your clinic or other health facility. Source: Florida Department of Health Seven Truths About Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers [PDF] Adapted from Dr. Greg Poland, Mayo Clinic Source: Minnesota Department of Health Implementing a Mandatory Medical Center Influenza Immunization Program - Insights from Virginia Mason Medical Center [PDF] View this presentation given at the 2007 National Influenza Vaccine Summit. Reviewed October 4, 2012