In an effort to reduce the spread of influenza and to protect the health of both patients and health care providers, the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative recommends that all health care providers receive the seasonal influenza immunization.
Health Care Personnel Influenza Immunization
In 2018, KHC's 10th annual statewide survey of hospital health care workers found that 93.9 percent of hospital personnel in Kansas received influenza vaccination during the 2017-18 flu season, up from 64% during the 2008-09 flu season. Download press release.
Education Materials
→ Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2021-22 season
→ Click here for the CDC's Flu Campaign Toolkit.
→ A comprehensive, online toolkit from KHC is available in support of Hospital Health Care Personnel Influenza Immunization.
Resources
Articles
- MMWR: Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the ACIP -- U.S., 2021-22 Influenza Season, August 27, 2021
- AJPM: Association of State Laws with Influenza Vaccination of Hospital Personnel, June 2019
- NEJM Journal Watch: Is the Tide Turning on Mandatory Flu Vaccination for Healthcare Workers? June 13, 2018 (NEJM subscription/log-in required)
- JAMA Network: Changes in Influenza Vaccination Requirements for Health Care Personnel in US Hospitals, June 2018
- MMWR: Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel -- United States, 2017-18 Influenza Season, September 28, 2018
- Frequently Asked Flu Questions 2017-2018 Influenza Season
- Influenza Vaccination Information for Health Care Workers, CDC, updated September 2016
- More healthcare workers need flu shots: CDC, September 30, 2016
- MMWR: Immunization of health-care personnel, November 25, 2011 (see pg. 9)
- Requiring influenza vaccination for health care workers: seven truths we must accept, January 13, 2005
- OSHA Fact Sheet: Seasonal Influenza Vaccination -- Important Protection for Healthcare Workers, November, 2011
- Medscape Medical News: AAP backs mandatory vaccination for HCPs, updates recs for kids, September 7, 2015
- HealthLeaders Media: 4 Tips for Raising Vaccination Rates Among Healthcare Workers, August 24, 2015
Recommendations
- National Patient Safety Foundation Supports Mandatory Flu Vaccine for Health Care Workers, November 11, 2015
- AMA supports tighter limitations on immunization opt outs, June 8, 2015
- IDSA, SHEA and PIDS joint policy statement on mandatory immunization of health care personnel according to the ACIP-recommended vaccine schedule, December 10, 2013
- AOHP Position Statement on Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers, February 2011
- Immunization Action Coalition: Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations, March 2015
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Influenza Immunization for All Health Care Personnel: Keep It Mandatory, October 2015
- American Hospital Association Endorses Patient Safety Policies Requiring Influenza Vaccination of Health Care Workers, July 2011
- APIC Position Paper: Influenza Vaccination Should Be a Condition of Employment for Healthcare Personnel, Unless Medically Contraindicated, January 2011
- ACIP Recommendations on Immunization of Health-Care Personnel (November 2011)
- American Academy of Family Physicians Supports Mandatory Flu Vaccinations for Health Care Personnel, June 2011
- American College of Physicians (ACP) Policy on Patient Safety and Health Care Provider Immunization, December 2013
- American Pharmacists Association (APhA): Annual Influenza Vaccination Requirements for Health Workers, November 2010
- National Business Group on Health: Hospitals Should Require Flu Vaccination for all Personnel to Protect Patients' Health and Their Own, October 2011
Toolkits
- CDC: 2018-19 Flu Season Digital Media Toolkit
- CDC: National Influenza Vaccination Week Digital Toolkit
- CDC: Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals
- CDC: Updated Influenza Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) for both inactivated and live, intranasal influenza vaccines
- Flu.gov: Planning and Preparedness for Health Professionals
- HealthyPeople 2020: Objective IID12-13. Increase the percentage of health care personnel who are vaccinated annually against seasonal influenza, revised 2013
- HealthyPeople 2020: Interventions to promote seasonal influenza vaccination among healthcare workers, 2011
- KDHE: Long-term care facility immunization toolkit
- NHSN: Resources for NHSN Users
- TJC: Providing a safer environment for health care personnel and patients through influenza vaccination
- HPOE: Articles on the Influenza Mandatory Policy
Videos
- Sanford Health Flu Man 2 (5 min.)
Education
NHSN Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Module Influenza Vaccination Summary: Acute Care Facilities (Feb. 2019)
Kansas Healthcare Collaborative Webinar, June 24, 2015
Health Care Personnel Influenza Immunization: Tracking HCP influenza immunization in NHSN, hospital success story by Hays Medical Center
- Webinar recording (61 min.)
- Instructions for conferring HCP influenza immunization data to KHC NHSN group (pdf)
- NHSN HCP Vaccination Module (pdf)
- NHSN tip sheet for data collection strategies (pdf)
- "7 Truths" article (pdf)
- NHSN Manual: Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Module
- Instructions for conferring HCP influenza immunization data to KHC NHSN group (pdf)
Kansas Healthcare Collaborative Webinar, September 23, 2015
Summary results: Annual Influenza Immunization Survey of Health Care Personnel, plus other topics.
- Recording (62 min.)
- Presentation handout (pdf) [slides #5-14]
Sample Hospital HCP Influenza Immunization Policies
- Geary Community Hospital (pdf)
- Hays Medical Center (pdf)
- Labette Health (pdf)
- Sabetha Community Hospital (pdf)
- Saint Luke's Health System / Anderson County Hospital (pdf)
Success Stories
- KHC poster: Favorable Results from Statewide Efforts to Improve Influenza Immunization of Health Care Personnel in Kansas (presented at 18th Annual NPSF Patient Safety Congress, May 23-25, 2016)
For more information about the annual survey of Immunization of Hospital Health Care Personnel and resources to support your facility's immunization campaign, contact Michele Clark, KHC program director, at or 785-235-0763 x1321.