Achieving the national health objective for influenza immunization: success of an institution-wide vaccination program.
OBJECTIVE
To enhance influenza vaccination rates for high-risk outpatients at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, an institution-wide immunization program was implemented during 1987.


METHODS
The program consisted of: (1) a hospital policy allowing nurses to vaccinate without a signed physician's order; (2) stamped reminders on all clinic progress notes; (3) a 2-week walk-in flu shot clinic; (4) influenza vaccination "stations" in the busiest clinic areas; and (5) a mailing to all outpatients. Risk characteristics and vaccination rates for patients were estimated from a validated self-administered postcard questionnaire mailed to 500 randomly selected outpatients. For comparison, 500 patients were surveyed from each of three other Midwestern VAMCs without similar programs.


RESULTS
Overall, 70.6% of Minneapolis patients were high-risk and 58.3% of them were vaccinated. In contrast, 69.9% of patients at the comparison medical centers were high-risk, but only 29.9% of them were vaccinated.


CONCLUSIONS
The Minneapolis VAMC influenza vaccination program was highly successful and may serve as a useful model for achieving the national health objective for influenza immunization.
Nichol
K L
KL
Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417.
Korn
J E
JE
Margolis
K L
KL
Poland
G A
GA
Petzel
R A
RA
Lofgren
R P
RP
D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009934:Organization and Administration; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines