More Local Health Care Workers Received Their Flu Shot Last Year
Written by Communications, October 27, 2020
Annual Influenza Immunization Rate at PRHC Increased by 8.8%
Peterborough Public Health is reporting some good news for local patients as the number of local health care workers (HCW) who received their flu shot increased last year.
“Influenza vaccination provides important protection for health care workers and their patients,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “It is impressive to see that more local health care workers took advantage of the flu shot last year, and I hope this year is even better. In this time of uncertainty, their leadership is a shining example of the actions that are needed to keep our community safe.”
Each year Peterborough Public Health produces a report on health care worker flu immunization rates focusing on those who work in long-term care facilities (LTCF), retirement residences, and at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). For the 2019-2020 flu season, the median rate of flu shot uptake by staff at LTCF increased 3.1% over the previous year. The staff immunization rate at PRHC also showed a significant gain last year, growing by 8.8%, bringing their cumulative increase over the past two influenza seasons to 18.5%. Dr. Salvaterra noted this impressive jump in immunizations rates is a result of PRHC’s effective coordination of several internal programs plus incentivizing staff to get their flu shot.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) considers the provision of influenza vaccination to be an essential component of the standard of care for all HCWs for the protection of their patients.
During the 2019-2020 season there were three influenza outbreaks in total reported in LTCFs, retirement residences, and at PRHC, compared to 10 total influenza outbreaks in these settings the previous season.
This year’s flu vaccine has already been made available to health care workers and is currently publicly available through pharmacies and health care providers.
Please see the chart below for a comparison of influenza immunization rates by local long-term care facility and retirement home. LTCF and hospitals are required by the Ministry of Health to report these rates annually to local public health agencies; this is optional for retirement residences. Peterborough Public Health provides support to facilities who experienced a decrease in influenza immunization rates and is exploring strategies to address this.
Influenza Immunization Rates for Peterborough Health Care Facility Staff, 2019-2020 Season
Table 1: Peterborough public Health HCW Influenza Feedback Report (reporting mandatory)
Table 2: Percentage of staff who received Influenza Immunization in Retirement Residences in Peterborough City and County (reporting optional)
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For more information, please review the October 14, 2020 Board of Health HCW 2019-2020 Influenza Immunization report here (pages 43-83).
For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391