Novel use of the intranet to document health care personnel participation in a mandatory influenza vaccination reporting program

Background The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee recommend health care personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination to prevent transmission to patients. Recommendations include documenting declination and providing feedback of rates. We report the use of the intranet to achieve recommendations with mandatory participation of 20,170 HCP in an 1100-bed hospital. Methods Employees were required to log onto the intranet and select “vaccine received,” “contraindicated,” or “declined.” Declining employees automatically received a screen with education about vaccination. A Microsoft Structured Query Language database was created and linked to a Human Resource database. Administrators were provided feedback on participation rates. Employees were notified of the program via letter. Reminders were provided through managers and newsletters. Results Eighty-nine percent (17,998/20,170) accessed the intranet. Fifty-five percent (11,068) indicated “vaccine received” versus 38% in 2004-2005 ( P < .000001), 31% (6300) “declined,” and 3% (630) had “contraindications.” Unit rates ranged from 24% to 91%. Conclusion The intranet provides a tool for measuring and reporting participation, declination, and vaccination rates. The intranet and a mandatory participation program were associated with an increase in rates. Low rates in HCP with access to, and education about, vaccine may impact consideration of a mandatory vaccination program.