HCW flu vaccination results in fewer community infections

For every 15 health care workers who receive influenza vaccination, one fewer person in the community will have an influenza-like illness, according to study results presented at the 41st Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, or APIC.

James F. Marx, PhD, RN, CIC, investigator and founder of Broad Street Solutions, an infection prevention consultancy, and colleagues analyzed data gathered between 2009 and 2012 from the California Department of Public Health to determine the relationship between vaccinating health care workers (HCWs) against influenza and the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) in the surrounding community.

“This study suggests that there is a strong connection between how many [HCWs] are vaccinated against the flu and how many cases of [ILIs] are reported in the community,” Marx said in a press release. “More research would be helpful to further understand the impact of vaccinating [HCWs] on community influenza rates.”

For the 2011-2012 influenza season, the influenza vaccination rate of California hospital HCWs was 68%. According to Marx, if 90% of California HCWs were vaccinated — the goal set by the Healthy People 2020 initiative — there would be about 30,000 fewer ILI cases in California.

“It is critical that [HCWs] receive the flu vaccine since they come into contact with our most vulnerable community members,” Marx said.

Beginning last influenza season, Los Angeles County was one of 12 California counties that began requiring HCWs to receive influenza vaccination or wear protective masks. APIC recommends that all HCWs — in acute care hospitals, long-term care and other facilities — receive annual influenza immunization as a condition of employment unless there are compelling medical contraindications.

“Efforts to promote influenza vaccination of [HCWs] have traditionally focused on protecting patients inside health care facilities,” APIC 2014 President Jennie Mayfield, BSN, MPH, CIC, said. “Now we have evidence that through enhanced [HCW] vaccination we can protect the broader community. This represents a tremendous public health opportunity.”

For more information:

Marx JF. Abstract #426. Presented at: APIC 2014; June 7-9, 2014; Anaheim, Calif.