Strategies for Late Season Flu Vaccination 40 th National Immunization Conference of CDC March 7, 2006 Victoria Davey, RN, MPH Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards Department of Veterans Affairs Washington, DC

VA Health Care –5.1 million patients/year –7.5 million enrolled for care –1,300 Sites-of-Care 158 medical centers or hospitals, 850 clinics, long-term care, domiciliaries, home-care programs 850 clinics, long-term care, domiciliaries, home-care programs – $27.4 billion budget –193,000 Employees (~15,000 MD, 56,000 Nurses, 33,000 Allied Health Professionals)

–Affiliations with 107 Academic Health Systems Additional 25,000 affiliated MD’s Largest provider of health professional education –Most US health professionals (70% MD’s) have some training in VA –$1.7 Billion Research Program Basic, Clinical (Cooperative Studies), Rehabilitation, Health Services Research VA Health Care

–A truly “national” healthcare system –Increasingly recognized as leader in quality of care: Heart disease DiabetesProstheticsHIV Hepatitis C –Fully deployed Electronic Health Record—uniform throughout U.S.

Annual Flu Vaccination How does VA do?

VA Patient Flu Immunization Rates Chart Review VA Performance Goals HP 2010 Goal Veterans (> 49 yo, or w/ chronic illness ) 70 % 75 % 79-82%90% Source: External Peer Review Program Surveys, , 11 clinics + SCI & D

VA Patients’ Self-Reported Flu Vaccination Rates FY 03 All (> 49 yo) 75% >64 yo 84% >64 yo 84% NH Whites 74% NH Blacks 60% Non-VA vaccine 45% n=102,347 FY 04 All (> 49 yo) 82% >64 yo 88% >64 yo 88% NH Whites 83% NH Blacks 72% Non-VA vaccine 38% n=159,142 Source: Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Veterans (SHEP)

VA Staff Flu Vaccination Rates Anecdotes: rates of 80-90% of facility staff (this season) Probably a very wide range System-wide survey this year

Seasonal Flu: VA’s Annual Actions Annual Under Secretary for Health Directive – –Communicates priorities, implementation issues – –Setting goals/performance measures for flu vaccination—advised by VA “Flu” Group Purchase / distribution of flu vaccine supplies Dissemination of VA Influenza Toolkit VA Influenza Vaccine Advisories – –Regular reminders, guidance – –Leadership speaks Infection: Don’t Pass It On Campaign

VA’s Priority Groups Flu Season Pts >65yrs old Pts of any age with comorbid conditions Residents of VA’s long term care facilities (including group or shelter situations) Pregnant women veterans Personnel who work in VA healthcare facilities Veteran household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged <6months

VA’s Goals for Season Increase rates of vaccination in personnel at all sites Maintain/Increase rates of vaccination of veteran patients Provide pneumococcal vaccination where indicated Involve all staff and providers in promoting influenza vaccination Promote nonvaccine methods of preventing infection (hand/respiratory hygiene)

Seasonal Flu: VA’s Annual Actions Annual Under Secretary for Health Directive – –Communicates priorities, implementation issues – –Setting goals/performance measures for flu vaccination Purchase / distribution of flu vaccine supplies Dissemination of VA Influenza Toolkit – –Regular reminders, guidance VA Influenza Vaccine Advisories – –Leadership speaks Infection: Don’t Pass It On Campaign

VA’s Flu Vaccine Purchases Year Doses Purchased , ,163, ,461, ,841, ,587, ,049, ,070, ,240,000

Seasonal Flu: VA’s Annual Actions Annual Under Secretary for Health Directive – –Communicates priorities, implementation issues – –Setting goals/performance measures for flu vaccination Purchase / distribution of flu vaccine supplies Dissemination of VA Influenza Toolkit VA Influenza Vaccine Advisories – –Regular reminders, guidance – –Leadership speaks Infection: Don’t Pass It On Campaign

 Vaccine Information  Inactivated influenza, LAIV, pneumococcal  Methods to improve staff and patient vaccination rates  88% of veterans >64; assessing staff rates this year  Tools for Flu Prevention  Buttons, stickers, posters  Frequently asked questions  Eligibility for vaccine, HIV/AIDS, vaccine storage, LAIV  Resources, references, and web sites

 Toolkit materials sent to  8 key contact groups at each VA medical center Influenza vaccination (“flu”) coordinators Occupational health clinicians Prevention coordinators Infection control professionals Public affairs officers Patient educators Patient safety officers Education contacts

Seasonal Flu: VA’s Annual Actions Annual Under Secretary for Health Directive – –Communicates priorities, implementation issues – –Setting goals/performance measures for flu vaccination Purchase / distribution of flu vaccine supplies Dissemination of VA Influenza Toolkit VA Influenza Vaccine Advisories – –Regular reminders, guidance – –Leadership speaks Infection: Don’t Pass It On Campaign

Flu Vaccine Advisories VA Influenza Vaccine Advisory #4 for the Influenza Season VA_Flu_Vaccine_Advisory_4_ pdf (220k PDF file) VA_Flu_Vaccine_Advisory_4_ tif (233k TIFF image file) VA Influenza Vaccine Advisory Attachment Revised/renamed fact sheet: Prevention and Treatment of Seasonal Influenza A and B Using Oseltamivir, updated January 2006 PxandRxofSeasonalFluwoseltamivir.Jan2006.pdf (43k PDF file) VA_Flu_Vaccine_Advisory_4_ pdf VA_Flu_Vaccine_Advisory_4_ tif PxandRxofSeasonalFluwoseltamivir.Jan2006.pdf VA_Flu_Vaccine_Advisory_4_ pdf VA_Flu_Vaccine_Advisory_4_ tif PxandRxofSeasonalFluwoseltamivir.Jan2006.pdf Seasonal Influenza VA will follow CDC recommendation against the use of amantadine and rimantadine this season Continue the VA Influenza Vaccination Program this season Use public health measures to prevent and control seasonal influenza USH Flu Vaccine Advisories USH Flu Vaccine Advisories Under Secretary for Health  Issues new guidance, advice, feeds back data, and thanks the “field” 7 in season 4 in to date

More system-wide strategies… Ongoing reminders –Weekly ed “VA Flu Campaign TIP OF THE WEEK” Ideas solicited from VA clinicians Mid-October to February Sent in a nicely-designed to 1000s of staff National focus groups –Held twice in January –What works for your site’s flu campaign? –How can VA Central Office help? Infuenza A – early passage

More system-wide strategies… Ongoing production and dissemination of “tools” –A lower reading level VIS For use with the CDC version –Posters tailored to VA audiences Including CDC materials (thanks) Web-based survey to evaluate Flu Toolkit –Ideas for next year Infuenza A – early passage

Seasonal Flu: VA’s Annual Actions Annual Under Secretary for Health Directive – –Communicates priorities, implementation issues – –Setting goals/performance measures for flu vaccination Purchase / distribution of flu vaccine supplies Dissemination of VA Influenza Toolkit – –Regular reminders, guidance VA Influenza Vaccine Advisories – –Leadership speaks Infection: Don’t Pass It On Campaign

Infection: Don’t Pass It On Non-vaccine preventive measures encouraged in an active national campaign –hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene

Late season vaccination—how does VA do?

Flu Vaccine Utilization As of April 6, ,874,176 doses used ( 91% ) 16% was administered mid January-March Metrics for being collected –For VA patients –For VA health care facility staff

Summary--strategies to achieve late season vaccination Set system-wide goals—specific to the season Make flu vaccination of patients a performance measure for health care facilities Keep leadership visible and vocal throughout the season Communication, communication, communication –Establish multidisciplinary “key” contacts –Listen to the advice of staff and patients and share/act on it –Act quickly when policy changes are needed Invest resources –Toolkits, promotional items, awards to field staff who contribute or innovate

VA Web Resources