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, (pdf*)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.

Cover Influenza Campaign word* | pdf*

Introductory Letter for Partners in Prevention word*

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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.