Improving influenza immunization in pregnant women and healthcare workers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of several strategies to increase influenza immunization in a multispecialty clinic.


METHODS
Retrospective electronic database analysis of influenza vaccinations in a 6-year period at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston, Texas.


METHODS
We evaluated immunization rates in pregnant women and healthcare workers during 6 influenza seasons (2003-2004 to 2008-2009) after implementing the following strategies for pregnant women: assessing baseline immunization rates for obstetric providers, followed by direct encouragement and behavior modeling; implementing standing orders for influenza vaccination in pregnancy; and offering vaccination training to obstetricians and nurses. Further strategies implemented for healthcare workers included the following: conducting an employee survey about influenza knowledge, providing employee education based on survey findings and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, making employee vaccines readily available and free of charge, designating immunization nurses to serve as clinical champions, monitoring and reporting the employee influenza vaccination rate, and recognizing the clinic with the highest employee vaccination rate.


RESULTS
Influenza vaccination coverage rates in pregnant women increased from 2.5% at baseline to 37.4% in 2008-2009. Employee influenza vaccination coverage rates increased from 36.0% in 2003-2004 to 64.0% in 2008-2009.


CONCLUSIONS
Low influenza vaccination rates in pregnant women and healthcare workers can be substantially improved using methods shown to be effective in other clinical settings.
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Houston, TX, USA.
Melanie E
ME
Mouzoon
Flor M
FM
Munoz
Anthony J
AJ
Greisinger
Brenda J
BJ
Brehm
Oscar A
OA
Wehmanen
Frances A
FA
Smith
Julie A
JA
Markee
W Paul
WP
Glezen
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
D007252:Influenza Vaccines