tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
. 2020 Nov 10;1-6.
doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.1266. Online ahead of print.
Expanding mandatory healthcare personnel immunization beyond influenza: Impact of a broad immunization program with enhanced accountability
Thomas R Talbot[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Ruth Schimmel[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Melanie D Swift[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Lori A Rolando[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Rochelle T Johnson[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Jannis Muscato[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Paul Sternberg[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Marilyn Dubree[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Paula W McGown[SUP] 3 7 [/SUP], Mary I Yarbrough[SUP] 1 3 7 [/SUP], Gerald B Hickson[SUP] 8 2 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objective: Evaluation of a mandatory immunization program to increase and sustain high immunization coverage for healthcare personnel (HCP).
Design: Descriptive study with before-and-after analysis.
Setting: Tertiary-care academic medical center.
Participants: Medical center HCP.
Methods: A comprehensive mandatory immunization initiative was implemented in 2 phases, starting in July 2014. Key facets of the initiative included a formalized exemption review process, incorporation into institutional quality goals, data feedback, and accountability to support compliance.
Results: Both immunization and overall compliance rates with targeted immunizations increased significantly in the years after the implementation period. The influenza immunization rate increased from 80% the year prior to the initiative to >97% for the 3 subsequent influenza seasons (P < .0001). Mumps, measles and varicella vaccination compliance increased from 94% in January 2014 to >99% by January 2017, rubella vaccination compliance increased from 93% to 99.5%, and hepatitis B vaccination compliance from 95% to 99% (P < .0001 for all comparisons). An associated positive effect on TB testing compliance, which was not included in the mandatory program, was also noted; it increased from 76% to 92% over the same period (P < .0001).
Conclusions: Thoughtful, step-wise implementation of a mandatory immunization program linked to professional accountability can be successful in increasing immunization rates as well as overall compliance with policy requirements to cover all recommended HCP immunizations.
. 2020 Nov 10;1-6.
doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.1266. Online ahead of print.
Expanding mandatory healthcare personnel immunization beyond influenza: Impact of a broad immunization program with enhanced accountability
Thomas R Talbot[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Ruth Schimmel[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Melanie D Swift[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Lori A Rolando[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Rochelle T Johnson[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Jannis Muscato[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Paul Sternberg[SUP] 5 6 [/SUP], Marilyn Dubree[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Paula W McGown[SUP] 3 7 [/SUP], Mary I Yarbrough[SUP] 1 3 7 [/SUP], Gerald B Hickson[SUP] 8 2 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33168113
- DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.1266
Abstract
Objective: Evaluation of a mandatory immunization program to increase and sustain high immunization coverage for healthcare personnel (HCP).
Design: Descriptive study with before-and-after analysis.
Setting: Tertiary-care academic medical center.
Participants: Medical center HCP.
Methods: A comprehensive mandatory immunization initiative was implemented in 2 phases, starting in July 2014. Key facets of the initiative included a formalized exemption review process, incorporation into institutional quality goals, data feedback, and accountability to support compliance.
Results: Both immunization and overall compliance rates with targeted immunizations increased significantly in the years after the implementation period. The influenza immunization rate increased from 80% the year prior to the initiative to >97% for the 3 subsequent influenza seasons (P < .0001). Mumps, measles and varicella vaccination compliance increased from 94% in January 2014 to >99% by January 2017, rubella vaccination compliance increased from 93% to 99.5%, and hepatitis B vaccination compliance from 95% to 99% (P < .0001 for all comparisons). An associated positive effect on TB testing compliance, which was not included in the mandatory program, was also noted; it increased from 76% to 92% over the same period (P < .0001).
Conclusions: Thoughtful, step-wise implementation of a mandatory immunization program linked to professional accountability can be successful in increasing immunization rates as well as overall compliance with policy requirements to cover all recommended HCP immunizations.