New report shows ways to boost flu shot rates among health employees

Dissatisifed that only 42% of healthcare professionals have obtained their flu shot, the National Foundationfor Infectious Diseases (NFID) has published a call to action report and anotherone listing best practices for increasing immunization rates. Among the suggestionsfor boosting immunization rates are:

• Mobile vaccination cart programs
• Free vaccinations on site
• Intensive education and awareness programs
• Useof new technologies
• Signed declination forms
• State legislation and mandateprograms

NFID warned that unvaccinated health employees have led to flu outbreaksin their facilities. For instance, in one long-term care facility in which onlyone out of 10 health personnel was vaccinated, 65 people came down with the flu,resulting in hospitalizations and a few deaths. NFID's two reports can be foundon their