Mandatory vaccinations may be more effective in achieving higher vaccination rates among healthcare employees compared to programs focused on increasing access and convenience, according to a study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
For their study, researchers analyzed the impact of vaccination campaigns and calculated the number of healthcare employees who underwent influenza vaccination from 2006-2011. Researchers also conducted a survey of employee perceptions toward vaccinations in 2007.
Their research showed healthcare employee vaccination rates increased from 44 percent to 62.9 percent after their organizations instituted mobile carts, mandatory declination and peer-to-peer vaccination. Comparatively, mandatory programs requiring unvaccinated employees to wear a mask increased vaccination rates to more than 90 percent. Results from the 2007 survey also showed approximately one-third of respondents would not wait more than 10 minutes for a free flu vaccination and one-fourth would not care if they were unable to be vaccinated.
"A mandatory influenza vaccination program for healthcare personnel was essential to achieving high vaccination rates, despite years of intensive vaccination campaigns focused on increasing accessibility and convenience," the authors wrote.
For their study, researchers analyzed the impact of vaccination campaigns and calculated the number of healthcare employees who underwent influenza vaccination from 2006-2011. Researchers also conducted a survey of employee perceptions toward vaccinations in 2007.
Their research showed healthcare employee vaccination rates increased from 44 percent to 62.9 percent after their organizations instituted mobile carts, mandatory declination and peer-to-peer vaccination. Comparatively, mandatory programs requiring unvaccinated employees to wear a mask increased vaccination rates to more than 90 percent. Results from the 2007 survey also showed approximately one-third of respondents would not wait more than 10 minutes for a free flu vaccination and one-fourth would not care if they were unable to be vaccinated.
"A mandatory influenza vaccination program for healthcare personnel was essential to achieving high vaccination rates, despite years of intensive vaccination campaigns focused on increasing accessibility and convenience," the authors wrote.
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