( most of ) The 2004 Vaccinate Your Staff Contest

San Diego Immunization Partnership County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency Immunization Branch University of California San Diego Department of Community Pediatrics San Diego State University Graduate School of Public Health San Diego Immunization Initiative (I-3)

Just four simple steps 1) Man power 2) Will power 3) Funding 4) Vaccine …to a successful healthcare worker vaccination campaign two

Objectives 1)Increase healthcare worker (HCW) influenza vaccination rates 2)Provide an incentive for HCW vaccination 3)Promote influenza vaccination in the community…lead by example! 4)Decrease mortality and morbidity associated with influenza in San Diego County

Target Population Immunization Management Consultancy (IMC) participating providers (n=116) Community Clinics (n=33)

Strategic Partnerships San Diego County Immunization Coalition (I-3) Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP)

Getting around Step 3 - Funding What type of incentive(s) would encourage HCW vaccination? Why should businesses participate with a HCW vaccination initiative? What could we offer businesses in exchange for participation? Brainstorm…then get organized!

Contest Rules and Eligibility Who can participate? Practice site – individual clinic site; multiple sites allowed in large groups Eligible employee – Any employee that has direct contact with persons receiving healthcare including, but not limited to: MDs, NPs, PAs, RNs, LVNs, CNAs, MAs, patient services representatives/office staff, billing clerks, office managers, and janitorial staff or attendants that perform required duties while patients are present.

Contest Rules and Eligibility Immunization and contest timelines Shots received after October 1 Entries accepted between November 1-19 Winners announced December 6 -US Mail -Fax -Online (

Contest Rules and Eligibility Required coverage Number of eligible employees Target flu shot coverage No. Private Provider Winners* No. Community Clinic Winners* 1-10≥ 90%32 > 10≥ 80%32 * all sites that enter & achieve target coverage entered into raffle

Contest Rules and Eligibility Innovative Vaccination Strategies Optional participation Share best practices Winners selected by a panel of local immunization experts 2 private practices 2 community clinics

It all comes back to funding… Sponsor promotion packet 1)Formal proposal 2)Sample logo representation 3)“Worst-case scenario” budget- tailored for each sponsor approached 4)Memorandum of Agreement

Sponsorships Product donations Extreme Pizza Triple Espresso – “a highly caffeinated comedy!” Mobile Medicine – chair massages Financial backing- ATC Drug Testing (CHIP member)

Contest materials distribution Materials posted on coalition websites on September 15 Materials mailed to target participants on September 27 Revised “eligible employee” definition on October 6 in accordance with revised recommendations

Prize list

Entry form

Contest rules and eligibility

Vaccination resource sheet

Results Vaccine needed for Vaccinate Your Staff contest! 78 staff vaccinated at 11 practice sites All participants achieved 100% coverage 73% of participants vaccinated staff in the influenza season Mean coverage among staff in was 70% Greatest increase in coverage - 90%

Results Who received a flu shot this year? * Mean - 8 staff / site 41% Medical Assistants 28% Physicians 8% Nurse Practitioners 11% RN or LVN 12% office staff or patient service representatives (10/01-10/04) *n= 78

Other information collected influenza season 82% of practice sites provided influenza vaccine to clients Mean doses administered = 264 Median doses administered= 230 Range of doses administered = 0-800

Vaccine shortage response Revised “eligible employee” definition Canceled Innovative Vaccination Strategies component Discussed/decided against extending contest deadline due to vaccine shortage

How much did it cost? surveymonkey.com = $ $29.95/month - Coalition partner sponsorship Postal charges - Contest information packet & entry - Revised employee eligibility - Reminder Prizes – in kind community donations

Lessons learned Communication with participants – USPS mail a thing of the past? Coverage among entries received suggests incentives/competition an effective method for increasing influenza vaccine coverage among HCW. Community will support well-organized and planned initiatives

For more information: San Diego Immunization Partnership/ San Diego HHSA Immunization Program PO Box 85222, MS P511B San Diego, CA (619)