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\nUpdated on July 17, 2013 to reflect revised information.
\n \n \nInfluenza (the flu) can cause disease among health care personnel (HCP) and their patients.
\nCDC analyzed data from an internet panel survey conducted among HCP during November 2012 to provide a timely estimate of how many HCP were getting vaccinated. The results of this survey provide information for use by vaccination campaigns during National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 2-8, 2012). This report provides early flu season estimates (early November) of vaccination coverage by HCP so far this year. Final 2012-13 flu season HCP coverage estimates will be available after the end of the season.
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\nFor additional occupation vaccination coverage information, please see the attached table additional occupation characteristics excel icon[XLSX-12K].
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\nOverall the early-season estimate of flu vaccination coverage among HCP in 2012-13 was the same as early-season coverage in the prior season (63.4%). While flu vaccination coverage estimates among HCP overall working in hospital settings, and pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses across all work settings are nearing the Healthy People 2020external icon target goal of 90%, flu vaccination coverage levels among other categories of HCP and among HCP working in long-term care facilities and other work settings remain substantially lower than other HCP groups. Clinical care groups should be commended for high vaccination levels.
\nSuccessful vaccination campaigns programs should be continued among pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses and in hospitals and physician offices/ambulatory care settings to ensure vaccination coverage continues to improve. Additional efforts need to be focused on improving vaccination coverage among assistants or aides and administrative/non-clinical support staff and in long-term care facilities and work settings other than hospitals and physician offices/ambulatory care settings. Continued efforts are needed to ensure all HCP are vaccinated as soon as possible during this season.
\nThe November internet panel survey of HCP is designed to provide timely estimates of national flu vaccination coverage among HCP and to assess the effectiveness of current vaccination efforts. The follow-up survey in April 2013 will provide end-of-season flu vaccination coverage estimates.
\n \nCDC collected data from two pre-existing web-based panels from November 1-18, 2012. Clinical personnel were recruited from the membership of Medscape, a web portal managed by WebMD Professional Services, and non-clinical personnel were recruited from Survey Spot, a general population Internet panel. The sample was weighted to reflect the demographic composition of the target population of U.S. HCP. Survey items included vaccination during the current flu season and vaccination history, and knowledge, attitudes and beliefs concerning flu and vaccination. There were 2,089 health care personnel who were eligible and started for the survey and 2,006 (96%) who completed the survey. Weighted estimates were calculated based on each occupational group by age, gender, race/ethnicity, health care setting, and census region to be generalizable to the U.S. population of HCP.
\nWeighted analyses were conducted using SAS v9.2 survey procedure. Because the opt-in Internet panel sample is based on those who self-selected for participation in the panels rather than a random probability sample, statistical measures such as calculation of confidence intervals and tests of differences cannot be performed (12).
\n \nThese results are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution. The follow-up survey in April 2013 will allow for assessment of flu vaccination coverage at the end of the flu season. Final estimates for the 2012-13 flu season will be adjusted to account for differences in respondent characteristics that may be associated with flu vaccination coverage and may affect estimated levels of flu vaccination among different subgroups of HCP.
\nThe findings in the report are subject to several limitations.
\nDespite these limitations, internet panel surveys are a useful surveillance tool for timely midseason and postseason evaluation of flu vaccination coverage and knowledge, attitude, practice, and barrier data.
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\nAuthors: Jun Zhang, MD; Gary L. Euler, DrPH; Samuel B. Graitcer, MD; Stacie Greby, DVM, MPH; Immunization Services Division, NCIRD
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\n* Included allied health professional, dentist, technician, and technologist.
\n\u2020 Included dental offices, pharmacies, non-hospital laboratories, medical-related schools, emergency medical technician sites, and home medical-care sites.
\n\u2021 Single top main reason.
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