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J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2020 Jan;21(1):25-28.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.11.008. Recommendations for Mandatory Influenza Vaccinations for Health Care Personnel From AMDA's Infection Advisory Subcommittee.
Frentzel E1, Jump RLP2, Archbald-Pannone L3, Nace DA4, Schweon SJ5, Gaur S6, Naqvi F7, Pandya N8, Mercer W9; Infection Advisory Subcommittee of AMDA, The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
Author information
1 Essential Hospitals Institute of the America's Essential Hospitals, Washington, DC. Electronic address: efrentzel@essentialhospitals.org. 2 Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Specialty Care Center of Innovation and Division of Infectious Diseases, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH; Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Department of Medicine and Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH. 3 General Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA. 4 Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. 5 Steven J. Schweon LLC, Saylorsburg, PA. 6 Northeast Georgia Health System, Division of Postacute Long Term Care, Gainesville, GA. 7 Five Star Physician Services, Berlin, MD. 8 Department of Geriatrics, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 9 Wheeling Ohio County Health Department and Peterson Rehabilitation and Geriatric Hospital, Wheeling, WV.
Abstract
Preventing influenza infections is a national health priority, particularly among geriatric and adults with frailty who reside in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) settings. Older adults account for more than 70% of deaths from influenza, a reflection of decreased vaccine effectiveness in that age group. Annually vaccinating health care personnel (HCP) working with these patients against influenza is critical to reducing influenza morbidity and mortality among patients. PALTC HCP have the lowest influenza vaccination rate when compared to HCP in other settings. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all HCP receive an annual influenza vaccination, including those who do not have direct patient care responsibilities. Here, we discuss the importance of influenza vaccination for HCP, detail recommendations for influenza vaccination practice and procedures for PALTC settings, and offer support to PALTC settings and their staff on influenza vaccinations.
Copyright ? 2019 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Nursing home; aged; influenza; policy; vaccinations
PMID: 31888863 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.11.008