Influenza Vaccine Coverage Among Health Care Workers

Each influenza season, health care workers (HCW) become infected with the flu, an infectious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that HCW receive the influenza vaccine annually. All health care facilities in the state are required to report data on influenza vaccine coverage among their employees to Maine CDC annually.

Maine CDC worked in collaboration with hospitals for the past 3-4 years to improve HCW vaccination rates. Each year, Maine CDC analyzes data on flu vaccine rates reported by the hospitals and compares it to the state average. The result of the analysis is illustrated graphically and shared with each hospital.

Over the past three years, the vaccination rate among HCW in Maine has steadily improved from a statewide average of 65.2% in 2011-12 to 77.1% in 2011-12 to 84.2% in the 2012-13 season. We hope that health care facilities will keep working with their staff and continue this upward trend. 

To see the graphical results over the last three years, go to: http://go.usa.gov/b4eA