A/Prof. Noleen Bennett1,2, Dr Lyn-Li Lim1,3, Mr Nick Wilson4, Dr Ann Bull1, Ms Jennifer Bradford1, Ms Ling Wang1, Assoc/Prof Leon Worth1,5
1Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) Coordinating Centre, Melbourne, Australia
2Department of Nursing, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne , Australia
3Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Melbourne , Australia
4Immunisation Unit, Public Health Division, Victorian State Government Department of Health, Melbourne , Australia
5National Centre for Infections in Cancer, Sir Peter Mac Callum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia
Introduction: Annual influenza vaccination uptake by healthcare workers (HCWs) in Victorian public acute healthcare facilities (hospitals or their health service) and residential aged care services (RACS) is reported to the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) Coordinating Centre. Voluntary programs have been utilised for the period 2018-2020 and mandatory programs in 2021 (RACS) and 2022 (public hospitals and RACS). The objective of this study is to evaluate vaccine uptake in concert with the implementation of a mandatory policy.
Methods: HCW influenza vaccination uptake is defined as the number of vaccinated staff divided by the number of HCWs employed at each facility, and vaccination status is categorised as vaccinated, non-vaccinated (declined or medically contra-indicated) or unknown/undeclared. For the current study, data will be extracted for the period 2018-2022.
Results: HCW influenza vaccination uptake in acute healthcare facilities was 83.2% in 2018, peaked at 93.0% in 2020 and fell to 77.4% in 2021. In Emergency Departments, uptake peaked at 93.0% in 2020 and fell to 79.0% in 2021. In RACS, uptake was 86.9% in 2018, peaked at 98.9% in 2020 and fell to 88.1% in 2021. Proportions of HCW declinations and HCWs with undeclared vaccination status were higher in 2021 than 2020 in acute healthcare facilities and RACS. Vaccine uptake for 2022 will be analysed and presented (available August 2022).
Conclusion: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, HCW influenza vaccination uptake increased in 2020, but decreased in 2021. In 2022, mandatory policy has been implemented to ensure high HCW influenza vaccination uptake.
Biography: Associate Professor Noleen Bennett is an Infection Control Consultant employed at the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) Coordinating Centre and National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS), both located at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. At VICNISS and NCAS, Noleen coordinates state and national level infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship surveillance programs specifically developed for Residential Aged Care Facilities. She is the Chief Investigator for a three year NHMRC grant currently underway, titled ‘The development, implementation and evaluation of a national infection aged care program for aged care’.