Public Health Reports Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Uptake By Local Health Care Workers
Written by admin, February 8, 2012
February 8, 2012 – Vaccine Coverage Rates for Staff Range from 8% to 94% at Local Health Care Facilities
At today’s Board of Health meeting, Peterborough Public Health reported the rates of seasonal influenza vaccine uptake by health care workers (HCWs), including those who work in long-term care homes, retirement residences, and the hospital.
“I am concerned about the low staff immunization rates in many health care facilities because we know that influenza can be life-threatening for seniors and other vulnerable populations,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “With adequate HCW influenza immunization, not only would it increase the level of protection in the community, but there would be potential savings in health care costs as well as more cases of influenza are averted”.
Princess Gardens had the highest overall immunization rate for staff and residents at 94%. Dr. Salvaterra commended Canterbury Gardens for having the highest HCW vaccination rate of all local seniors’ residences at 94% for the second year running. She noted a number of other long-term care facilities also have strong HCW immunization rates above 80%, such as St. Joseph’s at Fleming, Empress Gardens, Royal Gardens and Pleasant Meadow Manor.
The report included a number of recommendations to improve HCW immunization rates, such as asking local health care facilities to require immunization for all new hires. The Board of Health has required annual immunization against influenza for all Public Health employees since 2002.
Dr. Salvaterra appealed to all HCWs to get their annual flu vaccination as this could also help mitigate workload issues at health care facilities by keeping more staff healthy and reducing sick time coverage.
Influenza can result in widespread illness, including outbreaks and pandemics. It is associated with complications such as bacterial pneumonia and death. Annual immunization of persons at high risk, and of HCWs and others, who are capable of transmitting influenza to those at risk, is the most effective measure for reducing the impact of influenza.
2011-12 Influenza Immunization Rates for Peterborough Health Care Facilities
|
Facility |
% Residents Immunized |
% Staff* Immunized |
% Facility Immunized |
| Princess Gardens |
96% |
92% |
94% |
| Canterbury Gardens |
92% |
94% |
93% |
| St. Joseph’s at Fleming |
93% |
89% |
91% |
| Empress Gardens |
90% |
87% |
89% |
| Pleasant Meadow Manor |
84% |
93% |
89% |
| Royal Gardens |
91% |
83% |
88% |
| Peterborough Manor |
90% |
82% |
87% |
| Springdale Country Manor |
96% |
77% |
86% |
| Maple View |
91% |
72% |
85% |
| Riverview Manor |
91% |
79% |
85% |
| St. Joseph’s – The Mount |
95% |
75% |
84% |
| Applewood |
93% |
58% |
83% |
| Centennial Place |
89% |
75% |
81% |
| Jackson Creek |
92% |
53% |
80% |
| Extendicare Peterborough |
94% |
68% |
79% |
| Fairhaven Home for Seniors |
85% |
54% |
68% |
| Rubidge Hall |
84% |
16% |
67% |
| Extendicare Lakefield |
90% |
40% |
63% |
| PRHC Interim Long Term Care |
84% |
24% |
57% |
| Church Hill |
67% |
8% |
36% |
| TOTALS for Seniors Residences |
90% |
72% |
81% |
| PRHC (only staff # required) |
n/a |
40% |
40% |
| Peterborough Public Health (only staff # required) |
n/a |
94% |
94% |
*staff does not include volunteer staff
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Supervisor
(705) 743-1000, ext. 391