Download 2016 Healthcare worker influenza immunisation program

2016 Healthcare worker influenza
immunisation program
Information
To: Infection Control Practitioners, Pharmacists and Chief Executives
Background
The Department of Health & Human Services supply free influenza vaccine to public hospitals and health services
for healthcare workers (HCWs) and has done so since 2001. Data on influenza vaccination rates of HCWs reported
to VICNISS from health services in 2015 showed the total percentage of HCWs vaccinated was 78.7%. The
percentage of emergency department and intensive care unit HCWs vaccinated was 82.5% and 85.3%
respectively. These results are a significant improvement on previous years and all involved in the program should
be congratulated for their efforts.
All direct clinical care staff should be strongly encouraged to take the opportunity to have the influenza vaccine.
There is a risk they may be exposed to, and transmit the disease to co-workers, vulnerable patients and their
family. Maintaining a level of immunity in the HCW population ensures this risk of transmission is minimised.
For the 2016 influenza season the vaccine for HCW influenza immunisation will be a quadrivalent vaccine available
from the middle of April 2016.
Composition of the influenza virus vaccine in 2016

A (H1N1): an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) - like virus

A (H3N2): an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2) like virus*

B: a B/Brisbane/60/2008 like virus

B/Phuket/3073/2013 like virus.
Vaccine immunity lasts for about one year. It is important to receive an influenza vaccine annually to maintain
protection.
Pharmacy orders
The HCW influenza vaccine should be available from the middle of April 2016. Influenza vaccine for HCWs is
ordered by using the government funded vaccine order form at <https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/publichealth/immunisation/vaccine-order-and-stock/vaccine-order-forms>.
Promotional and support materials
The vaccine brand for HCW influenza immunisation is FluQuadri™ manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur.
Sanofi Pasteur has provided a selection of influenza vaccination program support materials to promote awareness
and education in your health service. An order form is available at the VICNISS website at
<https://www.vicniss.org.au/media/1228/hcw-support-material-order-form-2016.pdf>.
To order supplies of support materials, you will need to complete and fax the order form to Sanofi Pastuer as per
the instructions provided.
Further information
FluQuadri™ is latex free.
Other resources and guidelines for HCW immunisation are:

The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th edition 2013 (updated June 2015) available at
<http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook10-home>

HCW immunisation record cards can be ordered on-line at
<https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/immunisation>

Immunisations for health care workers seventh edition (updated August 2014) available at
<https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/immunisation/vaccination-workplace>

The World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza at
the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Melbourne at <www.influenzacentre.org/>
Data collation for HCW influenza vaccination uptake
The vaccine for the HCW influenza immunisation will be available from the middle of April 2016.
The period during which the vaccination rate will be calculated is 18 April 2016 to 19 August 2016.
Use the 2016 VICNISS data collection web form available at <https://www.vicniss.org.au/healthcareworkers/modules/health-care-worker-vaccination-surveys> to submit your data. The Health service must be
registered as a VICNISS web form user to be able to submit the influenza data. If you need instructions on how to
register to be a VICNISS web form user, please contact the VICNISS Coordinating Centre on (03) 9342 9333.
This data should be submitted to the VICNISS Coordinating Centre by Friday, 2 September 2016.
When completing the web form, only staff included in the denominator data if vaccinated, can be included in the
numerator data. Although it is encouraged that volunteers are offered influenza vaccination, the data for volunteers
is not to be included in the numerator or denominator data.
Further information regarding vaccination protocols, the methodology and how percentage rates are calculated for
this performance indicator can be sourced through the VICNISS website <https://www.vicniss.org.au/healthcareworkers/modules/health-care-worker-vaccination-surveys> or by contacting Dr Noleen Bennett, Infection Control
Consultant, VICNISS Coordinating Centre on 9342 9333 or <[email protected]>.
Monitoring and reporting
In 2016 HCW influenza immunisation is included in the Victorian health service performance monitoring framework
against an aggregate compliance rate of 75%. The Department of Health & Human Services strongly encourages
HCWs to take the opportunity to have the free seasonal influenza vaccine. In particular but not limited to those staff
working with patients in the emergency department, intensive care unit, maternity services, oncology, paediatrics,
cardiothoracic, respiratory, renal, metabolic units and aged care. This year aim for the highest uptake of the
influenza vaccine for your staff.
If you require further immunisation information, please contact the Immunisation Section on either telephone
1300 882 008 or email <[email protected]>.
If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, email <[email protected]>.
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
2016 Healthcare worker influenza immunisation program
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