Influenza Toolkit
Influenza Facts about Health Care Workers (HCW)
- Recommendations for annual influenza vaccination for HCWs have been in place since 1981.
- Reducing influenza transmission from HCWs to patients is a top priority for Portland Public Health Division and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
- A recent study of LTCF in Cumberland County found that the median rate of influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs was 43% (range: 21%--87%). Only three facilities met or exceeded the Healthy People 2010 goal of HCW vaccination coverage levels of 60%.
- A new Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations standard, effective January 2007, requires health care organizations to implement staff influenza immunization programs and track employee immunization rates.
- Higher vaccination levels among staff have been associated with a lower incidence of nosocomial influenza cases, decreased work absenteeism and decreased mortality among residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF).
Factors that increase the likelihood of influenza transmission from HCWs to patients:
- Only 4 out of 10 HCW are vaccinated.
- Influenza transmission and outbreaks in LTCF are well documented. HCW can acquire influenza from patients or transmit influenza to patients and staff.
- Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick.
- HCW often continue working despite being infected with influenza.
Protect yourself, your co-workers, and your patients.
Use these materials to implement an influenza vaccination campaign in your facility and to ensure that everyone in your facility is fully immunized.
Download the Influenza Toolkit (Zip | EXE)
(The EXE file is a self-extracting zip file - the Zip file will require an 'unzip' utility)
This download includes all the files referenced within the website.
