Evaluation of an Influenza Vaccination Implementation Strategy for Hospital Health Care Workers

Influenza is a serious disease which can cause severe illness and even death among patients. Health care workers (HCWs) often get infected with influenza and up to 76% of them keep working while being ill. Immunizing HCWs is therefore an essential factor in protecting patients from influenza as HCWs easily transmit influenza to their patients. However, despite recommendations from the Dutch Health Council since 2007, vaccine uptake among HCWs remains low. The aim of this study is to develop an effective implementation strategy on the basis of previous behavioural studies and to evaluate its value in a clustered randomized trial in all Dutch University Medical Centers (UMCs). Also, we want to assess the program elements that are associated with a higher vaccine uptake and the cost-effectiveness of such an implementation strategy. The results of this study will give more insights in the way influenza vaccination campaigns should be directed in order to achieve high vaccine uptake rates among HCWs in hospitals.