1. Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) September 2016
Uptake of the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Hospitals and Long Term Care Facilities (LTCFs)
Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)
September 2016

2. Influenza Vaccine Staff Uptake in Hospitals, 2015-2016 (n=50 Hospitals)
Participation
50 hospitals provided sufficient data for complete analysis
Uptake (average)
Among all HCWs was 22.5% (range by staff category, %)
highest among ‘medical and dental’ professionals
lowest among ‘nursing’ staff
Hospital Group range: %
Acute Paediatric Services Hospital group highest uptake: 37.6%
In general uptake higher in larger (staff numbers) hospitals
7 (14.0%) hospitals reported uptake > 40% among all HCWs (HSE Target)

3. Influenza Vaccine Staff Uptake in LTCFs, 2015-2016 (n=98 LTCFs) (I)
Participation
101 out of 229 (44.1%) of known LTCFs participated
Uptake (average)
LTCF HCWs was 26.6% (range by staff category, %)
highest among ‘medical and dental’ professionals
lowest among ‘nursing’ staff
18 (18.4%) LTCFs exceeded 40% national uptake target
Range across Community Health Organisations: %
highest in CHO 9 (Dublin North, Dublin North Central, Dublin North West) at 48.1%
No association between average uptake and number of eligible staff within LTCFs

4. Influenza Vaccine Uptake in residents in LTCFs, 2015-2016 (n=98 LTCFs) (II)
Uptake since the beginning of season among:
long stay residents: %
respite residents: %
respite residents vaccinated before admission: %

5. Uptake by Health Care Workers (HCWs) in Hospitals* by Season
Total No. HCWs
Total No. Vaccinated HCWs
Avg. Uptake %
Avg. Uptake % 95% CIs
Median Uptake %
Range Uptake %
No. Hospitals
46329
8275
17.7
15.7 42
41995
7325
14.6
11.0 35
50202
12234
21.5
19.4 46
51324
12006
21.3
20.1 45
59204
14833
22.5
19.8 50
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

6. Uptake by Health Care Workers (HCWs) in LTCFs* by Season
Total No. Eligible HCWs
Total No. Vaccinated HCWs
Avg. % Uptake
Avg. % Uptake 95% CIs
Median % Uptake
Range % Uptake
No. LTCFs
4705
849
16.0
10.0 70
2082
16.6
11.8
0-76
137
3268
26.0
20.6
0-100
117
10658
2739
28.1
25.0 91
2420
26.6
22.8 98
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

7. Uptake by Hospital HCW Staff Category by Season*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

8. Uptake by LTCF HCW Staff Category by Season*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

9. Uptake in Hospitals by Hospital Group & Season*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season; Data for and seasons not available for Midwest (UL) and Private groupings and graph excludes returns from 8 facilities in the South East that previously reported as hospitals up until

10. Uptake in LTCFs by CHO & Season*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

11. Percentage of Participating Hospitals with Uptake >40% by Season*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

12. Percentage of Participating LTCFs with Uptake >40% by Season*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

13. Uptake in Hospitals by Staff Size & Season*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

14. Uptake in LTCFs by Staff Size & Season*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season

15. Percentage of Long-term Residents Vaccinated Since Season Start*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season; One of the 101 LTCFs that participated in the survey did not provide complete information on resident uptake details

16. Percentage of Respite Residents Vaccinated Before Admission Since Season Start*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season; One of the 101 LTCFs that participated in the survey did not provide complete information on resident uptake details

17. Percentage of Respite Residents Vaccinated in LTCFs Since Season Start*
*Results based on complete returns consisting of eligible and vaccinated staff numbers by HSE category of staff in each season; One of the 101 LTCFs that participated in the survey did not provide complete information on resident uptake details

18. Conclusions
National average influenza vaccine uptake for HCWs currently remain low, with an average uptake of 22.5% in reporting hospitals, and 26.6% in reporting LTCFs
These uptake figures are considerably less than the 40% national uptake target set by the HSE for the season

19. Recommendations
Identify reasons for variation in vaccination coverage across hospitals/facilities, health professionals and regions
Improve access to vaccination clinics through mobile units operating on-site, in the wards for all shifts etc.
Increase frequency of vaccination clinics before and after the new year period of flu season

20. Recommendations continued
Improve knowledge and attitudes to vaccination
Have timely reminders and introduce incentives
Assign dedicated personnel to support the vaccination programme
Resources provided at local, regional and national level to drive forward standard policies and practices for targets to be met

21. Recommendations continued
Identify key local personnel that need time and resources to implement policies
Encourage local leadership and strong and motivational communication messages
Information-led promotion strategies designed on the basis that workplace context influences vaccine acceptance

22. Recommendations continued
Highlight influenza vaccination as an infection control measure, and as a marker of quality and professional care
Communicate to HCWs that vaccination should be regarded as integral to duty of care, as equally important as hand hygiene
Address HCWs concerns regarding vaccination in relation to their living with carriers of chronic diseases or the perception of a lack of good health

23. Recommendations continued
Identify cost effective solutions for collecting staff vaccination information at local level, but each health care setting given adequate resources to build their own information systems
An improved national IT solution with necessary staffing needed to make reporting and analysis of data more efficient

24. Acknowledgements
Sincere thanks to all participating hospitals and LTCFs for providing this data