Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Influenza Vaccination Among Health Care Personnel
JAMA Network Open; 2018 Jun; Greene, et al
Influenza vaccine mandates for health care personnel (HCP) in US hospitals have increased in recent years, coinciding with concurrent increases in vaccination coverage among health care personnel. Despite this increase, however, many non-Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and nearly all VA hospital are still not currently mandating influenza vaccinations for health care personnel. This according to national survey study that compared the proportion of respondent hospitals requiring HCP to receive annual influenza vaccination between 2013 and 2017 and assessed the degree to which these proportions differed between VA and non-VA hospitals. Among the findings:
- The survey included responses from 1,062 infection preventionists; overall response rate for the 2013 survey was 69.3% and in 2017 was 59.1%.
- Required influenza vaccinations among HCP increased from 37.1% to 61.4% during the study period, driven by non-VA hospitals.
- Conversely, there was no significant change in the proportion of VA hospitals that required influenza vaccinations for HCP.
Greene MT, Fowler KE, Ratz D, Krein SL, Bradley SF, Saint S. Changes in influenza vaccination requirements for health care personnel in US hospitals. JAMA Network Open. 2018;1(2):e180143. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.0143.
This Week's Must Reads
Must Reads in Vaccines
Vaccination for Prevention of Herpes Zoster, Ann Intern Med; ePub 2019 Feb 19; Prosser, et al
ACIP Updates Adult Immunization Schedule, Ann Intern Med; 2019 Feb 5; Kim, Hunter, et al
Influenza Vaccination Safety During Hospitalization, Mayo Clin Proc; ePub 2019 Jan 8; Tartof, et al
Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Is Safe & Effective, JAMA Pediatr; 2018 Nov; Wood, Nolan, et al
Influenza and Pertussis Vaccination in Pregnancy, Vaccine; ePub 2018 Nov 3; Wilcox, Bottrell, et al
The vaccination of healthcare employees is very important for keeping patients healthy. We have populations where the vaccine has a lower efficacy rate or, for children under 6 months of age, an inability to receive the vaccine. Studies have shown hospitalized patients that have had no visitors have developed influenza. For many years a rate of 60% for immunization of healthcare employees was as good as could be found. About 10 years ago, Virginia Mason in Seattle was one of the first Health Systems to require mandatory influenza vaccination for all its employees. They achieved a 99% rate after this program began. There are now close to 700 hospitals that require mandatory vaccination of employees. This has withstood lawsuits and it is clearly best for patients. This has been endorsed by a large number of medical organizations, including the American Academy Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Physicians. Without these mandatory programs, 60% seems to be about as good as are hospitals could do. — John Russell, MD