Engaging a mobile force – Strategies to promote non-mandatory influenza vaccination in Healthcare Workers.
Robyn Morey1, Carol Northeast1, , 1Tasmania Health Service – Hospitals North, Launceston General Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Background
The Tasmanian Health Service (THS) Healthcare Workers (HCW) are recommended but not mandated to have an annual influenza vaccination. The THS Hospitals North Staff Health Unit conducts the vaccination program over 6 weeks (end April to early June) in alignment with Tasmania’s predicted influenza season.
Mobile vaccine clinics have been utilised to increase the uptake of influenza vaccines by HCWs over the last two years.
Actions
The staff health team plans the flu program over many weeks prior to commencement.
•Communication with line managers ensuring appropriate workspace available for mobile clinic and coordination of clinics.
•Scheduling of mobile clinics to suit wards and units.
•Engaged authorised nurse immunisers and booking of transport.
•Ensuring vaccines, equipment and consumables available.
During the six-week program additional and impromptu mobile clinics actioned.
Results
Mobile clinics have shown an increase in vaccination HCW uptake.
2021 (no mobile clinics) – 2525 vaccinations administered.
2022 mobile clinics – 2091 vaccines over 4 weeks (total program – 2648)
2023 mobile clinics – 1863 vaccines over 3 weeks (total program – 2605)
Positive responses to mobile clinics:
•employees prefer to have the vaccine in their workspace rather than attend a fixed clinic.
•More cost effective and productive for the organisation as decreased interruption to ward or unit workflow.
•Social distancing better managed as less crowding at walk-in clinics.
Conclusion
The uptake of influenza vaccines by THS Hospitals North Healthcare Workers is more effective when delivered through mobile clinics to employee workspaces.
Biography
Biography:
Robyn Morey obtained her Bachelor of Health Science in Nursing from the University of Tasmania following hospital-based registered nurse training. Robyn has 8 years’ experience as an Infection Prevention & Control Clinical Nurse Consultant in Staff Health, and she completed the ACIPC’s Blood Borne Virus Testing Course in 2022. Robyn is currently employed with the Tasmanian Health Service – Hospitals North and based at the Launceston General Hospital.