AHA Quality Advisory: AHA Supports Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Policies

Summary

The AHA's Board of Trustees approved a policy supporting mandatory patient safety policies that require either influenza vaccination or wearing a mask in the presence of patients across the health care settings during flu season. This policy aims to achieve the highest possible level of protection.

New Resources Available

Joint Commission Resources has issed a national challenge to health care organizations aimed at increasing flu caccinations among staff. The Flu Vaccination Challenge encourages organizations to achive a 75 percent vaccination rate and strive to achieve a rate between 85 to 95 percent.
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvannia has released a best practice paper on Universal Flu Immunization Programs for Health Care Personnel. It includes information national policy direction, employee education and model policies.
Adverse Effects of Vaccines has been released for pre-publication by the National Academies Press. A committe of experts, convened by the IOM, reviewed more than 1,000 research articles and concluded that few health problems are caused or associated with vaccines. The report is available on the NAP site.

AHA policy staff has compiled two lists of resources:
An overall resource list on mandatory influenza policy
A list of articles on influenza mandatory policy

To support hospitals in implementing such polices, the AHA held three conference calls featuring speakers from hospitals with mandatory vaccination policies. These calls highlight best practices.

August 23—A presentation on the influenza campaign at North Shore LIJ Health System.
Access the recorded audio (available to AHA members only, log in is required)
Access the presentation slides  (available to AHA members only, log in is required)

September 8—Children's Hospital and Medical Center improves its influenza vaccination rates among its health care workers.
Access the recorded audio (available to AHA members only, log in is required)
Access the presentation slides (available to AHA members only, log in is required)

For further questions, please contact Nancy Foster, AHA vice president of quality and patient safety, at nfoster@aha.org or Roslyne Schulman, AHA director of policy, at rschulman@aha.org

Read the entire AHA Quality Advisory http://www.aha.org/aha/advisory/2011/110722-quality-adv.pdf