title: Health care worker influenza immunization rates: the missing pieces of the puzzle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunization rates are used to assess the level of protection against influenza, but limited data exist on how such rates are measured in health care organizations. We conducted key informant interviews with campaign planners to learn about processes for collecting immunization data, including barriers and facilitating factors for measuring and reporting rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted telephone interviews with 23 influenza immunization program planners across Canada working in 7 acute care hospitals, 6 continuing care facilities, and 8 public health organizations in 2012. We used content analysis to examine the interview data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methods used to collect immunization data varied by the size and type of health care organization. Immunization data from different personnel groups were included in immunization rate calculations depending on the local public health reporting requirements and the organization's size. Challenges associated with collecting immunization data and calculating rates included lack of resources for identifying personnel immunized off-site, tracking personnel who declined immunization, identifying non-payroll staff, and interpreting unclear public health reporting requirements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support from other vaccine providers, public health, employers, and professional and external bodies is needed to provide the necessary information and resources to calculate accurate and complete rates. Further work is needed to refine and standardize the collection of HCW influenza immunization data so that it may be used for surveillance and quality assessment purposes.
authors: Surveillance and Epidemiology, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Quach
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Pereira
authors: Christine L
authors: CL
authors: Heidebrecht
authors: Jeffrey C
authors: JC
authors: Kwong
authors: Maryse
authors: M
authors: Guay
authors: Lois
authors: L
authors: Crowe
authors: Sherman
authors: S
authors: Quan
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Bettinger
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D013689:Telephone; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Acute care; Influenza immunization rate measurement; Influenza vaccine; Long-term care; Reporting requirements