title: US school/academic institution disaster and pandemic preparedness and seasonal influenza vaccination among school nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  School pandemic preparedness is essential, but has not been evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was sent to school nurses (from state school nurse associations and/or state departments of education) between May and July 2011. Overall school pandemic preparedness scores were calculated by assigning 1 point for each item in the school's pandemic plan; the maximum score was 11. Linear regression was used to describe factors associated with higher school pandemic preparedness scores. Nurse influenza vaccine uptake was assessed as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,997 nurses from 26 states completed the survey. Almost three-quarters (73.7%; n = 1,472) reported receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine during the 2010-11 season. Very few (2.2%; n = 43) reported that their school/district had a mandatory influenza vaccination policy. Pandemic preparedness scores ranged from 0 to 10 points, with an average score of 4.3. Determinants of school pandemic preparedness were as follows: planning to be a point of dispensing during a future pandemic (P < .001), having experienced multiple student or employee hospitalizations and/or deaths related to H1N1 during the pandemic (P = .01 or <.05, respectively), having a lead nurse complete the survey (P < .001), and having the school nurse study participant be a member of the school disaster planning committee (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US schools must continue to address gaps in pandemic planning.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biosecurity, Saint Louis University, School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA. rebmannt@slu.edu
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rebmann
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reddick
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: D Swick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012573:School Nursing; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines