Social networking in the promotion of influenza vaccination of health care workers

Influenza transmitted by health care workers (HCW) increases patient mortality, morbidity and hospital stays and has a significant cost in HCW absenteeism. The most-efficient way to prevent outbreaks is vaccination of HCW, which some authors suggest should be compulsory.

Infected HCW transmit infections to vulnerable patient groups. In the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (HCB) a nosocomial influenza outbreak during the epidemic season was worsened by low vaccination rates in HCW.

Although the CDC has recommended seasonal vaccination of HCW since 1981, normal coverages in Spain are around 20%. In the HCB, the rate was 24% in 2007, after a badly -planned campaign that immunized 70% of vaccinated HCW through a mobile nursing vaccination unit. A new campaign to make vaccination more attractive and better-known was designed to achieve 30% coverage, especially in departments where patient safety is paramount.

Methods

The campaign was designed along three main lines: strengthening institutional support, increasing demand and improving accessibility. The campaign was approved by the hospital management, who were asked to remove economic and logistic barriers, give a personal commitment to be vaccinated and consider vaccination coverage as a quality indicator.

Awareness of the campaign was increased by social networking, including weekly e-mails with educational messages, a website with photographs of vaccinated HCW entitled “I have already been vaccinated!” and a lottery. Mobile vaccination units were improved and rearranged.

Results

HCB management has improved funding and commitment to vaccination, while vaccination awareness has increased among HCW. Preliminary results show coverages will almost certainly reach the initial goals.

Conclusion

Social networking techniques have been successful in the campaign to improve HCW vaccination coverage and increase patient safety.