Jill D Daugherty1, Sarah C Blake2, Jessica M Grosholz2, Saad B Omer3, LuMarie Polivka-West4, David H Howard2. 1. Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Electronic address: Jill.d.daugherty@gmail.com. 2. Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. 3. Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. 4. Florida Health Care Association, Tallahassee, FL.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that vaccination of nursing home staff members may reduce the incidence of influenza among nursing home residents. Current national estimates of employee vaccination rates (around 50%) indicate that residents may be at an unnecessarily high risk of contracting influenza. This article reports on the influenza vaccination rates and attitudes toward the vaccine among employees in 37 nursing homes in 3 states. METHODS: Nursing home employees were surveyed at nursing homes in Florida, Georgia, and Wisconsin in 2011-2012. Completed surveys were received from a total of 1,965 employees. RESULTS: Approximately 54% of the employees surveyed received the vaccination during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 influenza seasons. Nursing home-level staff vaccination rates varied widely, from 15%-97%. Black and younger employees were less likely to receive the vaccine. Employee vaccination rates in nursing homes that used incentives were 12 percentage points higher than those that did not use incentives (P = .08). CONCLUSION: Low vaccination rates among nursing home workers may put residents at increased risk for influenza-related morbidity and mortality. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may consider employee vaccination rates as a quality indicator in addition to resident vaccination rates. Our findings support the use of a trial to test the use of incentives to increase employee vaccination rates.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that vaccination of nursing home staff members may reduce the incidence of influenza among nursing home residents. Current national estimates of employee vaccination rates (around 50%) indicate that residents may be at an unnecessarily high risk of contracting influenza. This article reports on the influenza vaccination rates and attitudes toward the vaccine among employees in 37 nursing homes in 3 states. METHODS: Nursing home employees were surveyed at nursing homes in Florida, Georgia, and Wisconsin in 2011-2012. Completed surveys were received from a total of 1,965 employees. RESULTS: Approximately 54% of the employees surveyed received the vaccination during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 influenza seasons. Nursing home-level staff vaccination rates varied widely, from 15%-97%. Black and younger employees were less likely to receive the vaccine. Employee vaccination rates in nursing homes that used incentives were 12 percentage points higher than those that did not use incentives (P = .08). CONCLUSION: Low vaccination rates among nursing home workers may put residents at increased risk for influenza-related morbidity and mortality. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may consider employee vaccination rates as a quality indicator in addition to resident vaccination rates. Our findings support the use of a trial to test the use of incentives to increase employee vaccination rates.
Authors: Xin Yue; Carla Black; Sarah Ball; Sara Donahue; Marie A de Perio; A Scott Laney; Stacie Greby Journal: J Am Med Dir Assoc Date: 2019-01-30 Impact factor: 4.669
Authors: Jasmine L Travers; Patricia W Stone; Ragnhildur I Bjarnadottir; Monika Pogorzelska-Maziarz; Nicholas G Castle; Carolyn T A Herzig Journal: Am J Infect Control Date: 2016-03-09 Impact factor: 2.918
Authors: Marina Digregorio; Pauline Van Ngoc; Simon Delogne; Eline Meyers; Ellen Deschepper; Els Duysburgh; Liselore De Rop; Tine De Burghgraeve; Anja Coen; Nele De Clercq; An De Sutter; Jan Y Verbakel; Piet Cools; Stefan Heytens; Laëtitia Buret; Beatrice Scholtes Journal: Vaccines (Basel) Date: 2022-04-12