Is the on site flu vaccination among health care workers effective? A Italian teaching hospital case

Background Influenza is a potentially severe but preventable respiratory infection that affects about 10% of general population leading to high morbidity and mortality especially in frail people. Seasonal flu vaccination is recommended among health care workers (HCWs) to protect immunocompromised patients, themselves and the whole hospital community. The low vaccination rate registered in Gemelli Teaching Hospital HCWs during last years called for new engaging approach to improve flu vaccination coverage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the On Site Vaccination (OSV) strategy and differences in flu vaccination coverage among medical and non-medical HCWs. Methods OSV sessions were organized by the Hospital Health Management in a random sample of Clinical Units (CU) of the Gemelli Teaching Hospital and realized between October and December 2016, whereas standard flu vaccination was proposed at all HCWs directly during the daily activity by Preventive Medicine Service (control CU). High risk CU were excluded from the study. Chi squared test was used to assess differences in flu vaccination coverage between groups; statistical significance was set at 0.05. Analyses were performed using STATA. Results OSV sessions involved 280 HCWs overall. Control CU accounted for a total of 1087 HCWs. Flu vaccination coverage in HCWs belonging to CU that received the intervention was higher compared to controls (15.7% vs 6.4%, p < 0.001), both in medical (25.8% vs 13.7%, p < 0.01) and non-medical (10.4% vs 3.5%, p < 0.001) HCWs. Medical doctors were more inclined to undergo vaccination than non-medical HCWs (16.6% vs 4.8%, p < 0.001), both in OSV CU (25.8% vs 10.4%, p < 0.001) and control CU (13.7% vs 3.5%, p < 0.001). Conclusions This additional OSV strategy to promote positive vaccination attitudes was effective in achieving higher flu vaccination coverage among medical and non-medical HCWs and therefore can be considered a valuable example to enhance prevention in hospital settings Key messages: Flu vaccination among HCWs is a fundamental goal to protect patients, themselves and the hospital community. When low vaccination rate is registered, new engaging approach, such as OSV, are necessary. Participative strategies, such as OSV, are important but not crucial to improve flu vaccination coverage among medical and non-medical HCWs and to protect, consequently, the whole hospital community.