Work-site-based influenza vaccination in healthcare and non-healthcare settings

OBJECTIVE: To better understand work-site-based programs for influenza vaccination. DESIGN: Self-administered, mailed questionnaire. SETTING: Healthcare and non-healthcare companies. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 2,000 members of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. RESULTS: The response rate was 55%, and 88% of the respondents were employed by companies sponsoring work-site influenza vaccination. Thirty-two percent of respondents worked for healthcare and healthcare-related services companies. Healthcare companies were more likely to sponsor worksite-based vaccination (94% vs 85%; P<.0001) compared with non-healthcare companies. Healthcare companies were also more likely to encourage vaccination of high-risk employees (70% vs 55%; P<.0001) and cover its cost (86% vs 61%; P<.0001). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with highly successful vaccination. Being a healthcare-related company (OR, 2.1; CI95, 1.4-3.2; P<.0001), employers covering the vaccination cost (OR, 3.1; CI95, 1.4-6.6; P=.004), having more experience with work-site vaccination (OR, 1.6; CI95, 1.0-2.4; P=.036), and management encouraging vaccination (OR, 2.6; CI95, 1.4-4.9; P=.002) were associated with highly successful programs. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the occupational health nurses surveyed work for employers sponsoring work-site vaccination, and 32% were employed by healthcare and related services companies. Healthcare companies were more likely to sponsor worksite-based vaccination and to vaccinate most of their employees; however, only 18% had vaccination rates higher than 50%. Strategies need to be developed to increase vaccination rates so that benefits of vaccination can be realized by employers and employees.