The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthcare personnel (HCP) receive vaccinations because of their risk of exposure to and their potential to transmit vaccine-preventable diseases. The MHA is partnering with the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) to encourage hospitals to vaccinate HCP to protect patients, staff and visitors from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Studies demonstrate that mandatory vaccination policies in hospitals can improve coverage rates; however, vaccination policies vary throughout the state. In fall 2011, the MDCH conducted a survey on vaccination policies for employees at all acute care hospitals in Michigan. The survey found that 41 percent of hospitals reported a mandatory influenza vaccination policy for all staff; 11 percent reported a mandatory tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccination policy for all staff. The survey also highlighted the critical role of hospital leadership in implementing employee vaccination policies.
Hospital CEOs can significantly decrease the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases in their organizations by ensuring that effective vaccination policies are in place.
Healthcare Personnel Vaccine Recommendations
CDC General Recommendations on Immunization (Updated Nov. 25, 2011)
Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations (One-page reference sheet)
Immunization Action
Coalition: HCP Resources
Hospital Tools for Vaccination Policies
HCP Vaccination Reporting Requirements
Acute care hospitals participating in the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Inpatient Prospective Payment
System (IPPS) Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program will
be required to submit summary data on influenza vaccination of
healthcare personnel via the CDC’s
National
Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) beginning Jan. 1, 2013, for the 2012-2013 influenza season.
Facilities must report vaccination data for three categories of HCP:
- employees on payroll
- licensed independent practitioners (who are physicians, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants affiliated with the hospital, but not on payroll)
- students, trainees and volunteers age 18 or older
Only HCP physically working in the facility for at least 30 days between Oct. 1 and March 31 should be counted.
The data required to be reported for the three categories of HCP includes:
- vaccinations received at the facility
- vaccinations received outside of the facility
- medical contraindications
- declinations
Resources and Additional Information on Reporting Requirements:
Overview of NHSN’s Surveillance for
Healthcare Personnel Vaccination
Training Module on NHSN
Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Reporting Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions: HCP Influenza Vaccination Summary Reporting in NHSN
In addition to reporting HCP vaccination data to NHSN, ensure
that your hospital is reporting to the
Michigan Care Improvement
Registry.
HCP Influenza Vaccination
MDCH Seasonal Influenza
Website
Immunization Action Coalition Honor Roll for Patient Safety
Mandatory influenza vaccination of healthcare workers: translating policy to practice. Clinical Infectious Disease. 2010
HCP Tdap Vaccination
CDC Pertussis Website
CDC Updated Tdap
Recommendations
MDCH Pertussis Website
MDCH Letter to Hospital CEOs on Tdap Vaccination
