1. Maryland Healthcare Workers Influenza Initiative
Tiffany A. Tate, MHS
Maryland Partnership for Prevention, Inc.
National Immunization Conference
April 1, 2009

2. Maryland Healthcare Workers Influenza Initiative
A partnership between the Maryland Partnership for Prevention and Maryland DHMH Center for Immunization to increase healthcare workers’ influenza vaccination rates.

3. How It Works…
Partner with professional associations to promote initiative and recruit participants
Registered Partners (RP) complete baseline survey
RPs eligible for $1,000 grant
RPs receive toolkit, resources, and incentives
RPs receive updates through monthly newsletter
RPs report results at end of season
Wrap-Up Meeting and Awards Ceremony

5. HCW Toolkit Contents Resources & Strategies ACIP Recommendations
COMAR Regulations
Standing Orders
Vaccine Information Statements
Vaccine Administration Records and Consent Forms
Document Templates

6. Other Resources

7. Other Resources

8. Recruitment of Registered Partners
“Supporting Partners” – member organizations, professionals associations, colleges and universities, etc.
Health Officers / LHDs
VFC Program
Letter to hospitals from Maryland Secretary of Health

9. Maryland HCW Influenza Initiative
Registered Partners, 81 59 49 45

10. How will you promote flu vaccinations to employees and volunteers?
2005 – 2006
2006 – 2007
Posters
68%
78%
90%
Flyers
81%
67%
Paycheck Stuffers
22%
26%
25%
Announcements
85%
75%
Incentives
30%
50%
Other
54%
44%
45%

11. How will you promote flu vaccinations to your employees and volunteers

12. Flu vaccinations will be offered to employees and volunteers…
2005 – 2006
2006 – 2007
2007 – 2008
Free of charge
95%
96%
90%
At Cost 0% 5% 2%
Discounted rate 4%
Will not be provided 1%
Other 7%

13. Does your facility have Standing Orders?

14. If vaccination refused, will you ask employee to sign a declination?

15. Where were your employees vaccinated
Where were your employees vaccinated? (Respondents could select all that applied)
2005 – 2006
2006 – 2007
2007 – 2008
Onsite
100%
96%
Private Provider
27%
33%
40%
Unknown 4%
11% 0%
Other
22%
15%

16. Barriers to vaccinating staff and volunteers against influenza… (Respondents could select all that applied)
2005 – 2006
2006 – 2007
2007 – 2008
Lack of funding for program 9% 7%
10%
Staffing
18%
15%
20%
Time constraints
19%
Employee knowledge
50%
67%
75%
Limited support from administration 0%
11%
None
Other
36%
30%
OMG!!!

17. Which vaccines do you routinely promote to your employees? (’08-’09)
YIKES!!!

18. (range across all facilities)
HCWs Vaccinated Under Initiative (reported by Wrap-Up Survey respondents)
Number
Vaccinated
Percent Vaccinated
(range across all facilities)
’05-’06
(n=22)
9,600
55% to 98%
’06-’07
(n=27)
8,800
15% to 81%
’07-’08
(n-20)
13,265
18% to 85%
’08-’09

19. Challenges and Limitations
Absence of standard definition of “Healthcare Worker”
Low response rate to wrap-up survey
Reporting errors (appx. vs. exact, percentages vs. actual number)
Limited staff to conduct survey follow-up
Changes in denominator from year to year
Changes in facility representation from survey to survey

20. Registered Partner Survey Completion Baseline v. Wrap-Up

21. Wrap-Up Survey Completion
By Facility Type,
22/49
27/45
20/59

22. Conclusions: Profile of a Winning Facility
Offers free vaccinations onsite
Has standing orders
Asks “refusers” to sign declination
>3 methods for promoting vaccinations
>2 methods for administering vaccinations
Applies for an initiative grant
Offers incentives

23. Initiative
Expansion to all HCW-recommended vaccines: Maryland Healthcare Workers Immunization Initiative
Request periodic submission of data from participants
Provide participants data collection instrument and/or system
Continued expansion to colleges and universities with medical programs

24. Acknowledgements Maryland DHMH Center for Immunization
Maryland HCW Planning Committee
Registered Partners
Supporting Partners

25. Maryland Partnership for Prevention
Tiffany Tate
Maryland Partnership for Prevention