Miss Emily Chapple1, Ms Lauren Lawlor1
1Epworth Healthcare, Australia
Biography:
Emily Chapple is a Registered Nurse with postgraduate qualifications in Infection Control and Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Emily is the Group Manager for Infection Prevention and Control at Epworth HealthCare, leading a team of Clinical Nurse Consultants, and supporting the Group Preventing and Controlling Infections Committee.
Abstract:
Issue
Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) is key in preventing nosocomial infection and avoidable morbidity/mortality. In 2022, with the advent of Victorian Government legislation mandating HCW vaccination and health service reporting, a considered approach to promoting vaccination and data capture of vaccination status was required. Engaging a transient, time-poor and vaccine-fatigued workforce posed challenges.
Actions
In 2023, a process for HCW influenza vaccination and data capture was rapidly implemented. A web-based system was used to capture vaccination data from HCWs and automate role-based workflows to support risk mitigation plans for non-vaccination. A strict approach to non-vaccination was taken with mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. The system required staff to enter their personal details including HCW classification, resulting in significant data quality errors and workload to correct. To improve efficiency, in 2024 the system was integrated with human resource information systems to pre-populate HCW details. In 2025, a robust communication campaign was coupled with improved data capture and a role-based risk assessment approach to non-vaccination.
Results
As an indirect measure of the effectiveness of this iterative review process, from 2023 to 2025, a 14% increase in vaccine uptake was seen. This result was inextricably linked to improved usability of the system, and risk-based approach to mitigating non-vaccination.
Conclusions/Lessons Learnt
In response to legislative change, innovative methods were required to develop an efficient, expedient process of influenza vaccine administration and data capture, and remove barriers to HCW engagement. The simplification of this process proved effective in improving influenza vaccine uptake.