Influenza immunization practices and policies for health care students in Canada.
BACKGROUND
Influenza vaccine is recommended for all health care providers including health care students. Little is known about how health care student programs provide information about influenza vaccination to their students, deliver vaccines and document their vaccination status.


METHODS
A mixed-methods approach was used and included key informant interviews of program coordinators for health care student programs in Halifax (Nova Scotia) and a national survey of program coordinators of health care student programs across Canada.


RESULTS
All 21 coordinators of programs that had students placed at the IWK Health Centre (Halifax, Nova Scotia) during the influenza season were interviewed. Surveys were completed by 93 (36.3%) of 256 eligible coordinators representing 134 different programs (response rate 52.3%). Most programs encouraged seasonal influenza vaccination but only 28 (20.9%) required it. None of the Halifax programs delivered influenza vaccine and most preferred a coordinated, centrally administered program. In contrast, many programs across Canada delivered influenza vaccine and did not desire a centralized process.


CONCLUSIONS
There is considerable variability in the delivery of influenza vaccine to health care students across Canada. Coordinated programs may be desirable where delivery programs do not already exist.
Acadia University, Wolfville; ; Canadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre;
Kiersten
K
Pianosi
Canadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre; ; Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Tara
T
Chobotuk
Canadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre; ; Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia ; School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Beth A
BA
Halperin
Canadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre; ; Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia ; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Scott A
SA
Halperin
Health care students; Immunization policy; Influenza vaccine