For more information contact:
Carlos.Quintanilla@state.or.us
971-673-0287

Workgroup Statement

We support annual influenza vaccinations among health care workers as an important way to protect our patients, our communities and ourselves. Influenza vaccination of health care workers is proven to reduce death and disease in clinical settings and in communities (1). In 2009, about half of Oregon health care workers were vaccinated for influenza (2). This turnout is below the levels needed to prevent an outbreak. The health of our patients, friends and families are at stake.
Together, we are taking action. We are:

1. Actively promoting annual influenza vaccinations of all Oregon health care workers;
2. Joining forces to educate all health care workers regarding the benefits of influenza vaccination;
3. Monitoring vaccine coverage in hospitals and long term care facilities through facility use of declination forms and aggregate reporting;
4. Measuring patient safety by a facility’s health care worker vaccination rate;
5. Evaluating Oregon health care worker concerns about influenza vaccinations in order to improve our communications about vaccine safety and efficacy;
6. Celebrating institutional and organizational successes through a web-based honor roll; and
7. Meeting quarterly to review progress and set objectives for increases in health care worker influenza vaccination rates over the next two years.

Influenza vaccination saves lives. In the last flu season, 1,316 Oregonians were hospitalized and 67 died of influenza-related illnesses (3). Health care workers care for vulnerable patients in hospitals, medical practices, long term care facilities, and in homes across the State. Annually vaccinated health care workers can stop the spread of disease in their clinics and facilities. Our patients deserve the best care possible. Promoting patient safety through an annual health care worker vaccination program provides a firm foundation for advancing this goal.

1) See Joint Commission Monograph at http://www.jcrinc.com/fluchallenge/

2) Preliminary analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Surveillance, Oregon Immunization Program.