title: Innovative workplace influenza program: boosting employee immunization rates.
abstract: Planning and implementing a successful immunization program at the worksite requires a committed, interdepartmental effort and a dedicated occupational health staff. Planning should start well in advance of influenza season with adherence to strict timelines. Key strategies for campaign success include generating a sense of enthusiasm about the campaign; creating an employee- and family-friendly atmosphere to diffuse possible uneasiness about receiving vaccinations; assuring easy access to vaccines; and providing employees with evidence-based information related to influenza and immunization using a variety of media. Using the proven best practices of its on-site employee health vendor and adapting other strategies, the vaccine manufacturer succeeded in raising employee influenza immunization rates from 34% in 2002 to 66% by the end of November 2003, well beyond the program's goal of 50%. By the end of December, after extra clinics were added in response to intense media coverage, the employee immunization rate increased to 76%.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Health Services Inc, Swiftwater, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strunk
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019985:Benchmarking; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D006040:Goals; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D018579:Patient Selection; D010934:Planning Techniques; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines