POSTED: OCTOBER 23, 2019

Influenza Vaccination in Health Care Workers

Worldwide, up to 20% of all HCWs will develop serological evidence of acute influenza infection yearly. In stark contrast, only 5% to 8% of vaccinated HCWs develop evidence of acute influenza infection.10 Thus, mandatory influenza vaccine policies should be considered an important patient safety initiative in the prevention of health care–associated influenza outbreaks, especially in high-risk settings.11-13 Published studies describe the benefits of such policies for reducing rates of health care–associated influenza and its associated morbidities.14-16 A meta-analysis that included 4 randomized controlled trials and 4 cohort studies that took place in long-term care facilities or hospitals showed a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (–44/1,000 patients) and influenza-like illness (–68/1,000 patients) in facilities where HCWs were offered influenza vaccination.8 A more recent Cochrane review in 2016, which examined the impact of immunization of HCWs on patient outcomes in patients aged 60 years residing in long-term care facilities, was inconclusive.17 Although there is a need for more robust data to more clearly understand the impact of vaccination on patients’ safety in different populations and across different settings, research to date suggests that immunizing HCWs has the potential to reduce both morbidity and mortality among vulnerable patients.
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Review Articles

OCTOBER 23, 2019

Influenza Vaccination in Health Care Workers

By Sarah Geoghegan, MBBCh BAO; Eimear Kitt, MBBCh BAO, FAAP; and Paul A. Offit, MD

Influenza represents a significant cause of global mortality, being responsible for up to 650,000 annual deaths. In the United States, the infection generates an economic burden of approximately $87 million per year in health care settings. This is primarily due to a significant decline in productivity, including workplace absenteeism.¹ Healthy adults who receive

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