Work-Site-Based Influenza Vaccination in Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Settings

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec id="S0195941700080887_abs1"><jats:title>Objective:</jats:title><jats:p>To better understand work-site–based programs for influenza vaccination.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0195941700080887_abs2"><jats:title>Design:</jats:title><jats:p>Self-administered, mailed questionnaire.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0195941700080887_abs3"><jats:title>Setting:</jats:title><jats:p>Healthcare and non-healthcare companies.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0195941700080887_abs4"><jats:title>Participants:</jats:title><jats:p>Random sample of 2,000 members of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0195941700080887_abs5"><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p>The response rate was 55%, and 88% of the respondents were employed by companies sponsoring work-site influenza vaccination. Thirty-two percent of respondents worked for healthcare and healthcare-related services companies. Healthcare companies were more likely to sponsor worksite-based vaccination (94% vs 85%; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < .0001) compared with non-healthcare companies. Healthcare companies were also more likely to encourage vaccination of high-risk employees (70% vs 55%; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < .0001) and cover its cost (86% vs 61%; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < .0001). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with highly successful vaccination. Being a healthcare-related company (OR, 2.1; CI<jats:sub>95</jats:sub> 1.4–3.2; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> < .0001), employers covering the vaccination cost (OR, 3.1; CI<jats:sub>95</jats:sub>, 1.4–6.6; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = .004), having more experience with work-site vaccination (OR, 1.6; CI<jats:sub>95</jats:sub>, 1.0–2.4; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = .036), and management encouraging vaccination (OR, 2.6; CI<jats:sub>95</jats:sub>, 1.4–4.9; <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = .002) were associated with highly successful programs.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0195941700080887_abs6"><jats:title>Conclusions:</jats:title><jats:p>Most of the occupational health nurses surveyed work for employers sponsoring work-site vaccination, and 32% were employed by healthcare and related services companies. Healthcare companies were more likely to sponsor worksite–based vaccination and to vaccinate most of their employees; however, only 18% had vaccination rates higher than 50%. Strategies need to be developed to increase vaccination rates so that benefits of vaccination can be realized by employers and employees.</jats:p></jats:sec>