PROTECT YOUR PATIENTS. PROTECT YOURSELF.

A Special APIC Program for Infection Preventionists To Help Increase Healthcare Personnel* Influenza Immunization Rates

Greater emphasis needs to be placed on improving influenza immunization rates among healthcare personnel (HCP)* to help ensure patient safety and protection—especially for patients at increased risk for influenza-related complications. Immunization also provides personal protection for healthcare personnel and minimizes workforce absenteeism during the influenza season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended all healthcare personnel receive an annual influenza immunization since 1981. Despite these recommendations, vaccination rates among healthcare personnel remain low, with only 42 percent receiving annual immunization. Healthcare personnel infected with influenza can spread the virus to patients in their care even before they feel ill. In fact, research suggests healthcare personnel can be a key source of institutional outbreaks, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality among vulnerable patients.

Healthcare facilities have an important role to play in maximizing influenza vaccination rates in healthcare personnel.   Every facility should develop and implement a policy for all healthcare personnel, including contracted staff, students, and volunteers, as well as a comprehensive influenza vaccination program. Infection preventionists can play an integral role in improving healthcare personnel influenza vaccination rates, thereby reducing institutional influenza outbreaks.

Protect Your Patients. Protect Yourself.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) encourages infection preventionists to use the materials featured in the influenza immunization resource kit, called "Protect Your Patients. Protect Yourself."

This special resource kit is designed to help APIC members and other infection preventionists develop and implement healthcare personnel influenza immunization programs in their institutions. The "Protect Your Patients. Protect Yourself." program supports the association’s position encouraging infection preventionists to help champion influenza immunization among this under-vaccinated population. The goals of this program are to:
• Help hospitals and other healthcare facilities increase immunization rates among healthcare personnel and prevent potential influenza outbreaks among patients in their care
• Provide APIC members with resources to help implement recommendations issued by the CDC for healthcare personnel to be immunized annually against influenza
• Educate healthcare personnel and institutional management about the importance of preventing influenza transmission to their patients and colleagues.

Resource Materials

Internet Resources and Readings
* In this report, the term healthcare personnel (HCP) refers to all paid and unpaid persons working in health-care settings who have the potential for exposure to infectious materials, including body substances, contaminated medical supplies and equipment, contaminated environmental surfaces, or contaminated air. HCP might include (but are not limited to) physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, technicians, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the healthcare facility, and persons (e.g., clerical, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance, and volunteers) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted to and from HCP. The recommendations in this report apply to HCP in acute care hospitals, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, physician’s offices, urgent care centers, and outpatient clinics, and to persons who provide home healthcare and emergency medical services.