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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2005.082073v1 97/4/684    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kimura, A. C. Articles by Vugia, D. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kimura, A. C. Articles by Vugia, D. J. Related Collections Aging Community Health Health Care Facilities/Services Quality of Care Immunization/Vaccines

Akiko C. Kimura, MD, Christine N. Nguyen, MPH, Jeffrey I. Higa, MPH, Eric L. Hurwitz, DC, PhD and Duc J. Vugia, MD, MPH

Akiko C. Kimura, Christine N. Nguyen, and Jeffrey I. Higa are with the Division of Communicable Disease Control, California Department of Health Services, Gardena. At the time of the study, Eric L. Hurwitz was with the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles. Duc J. Vugia is with the Division of Communicable Disease Control, California Department of Health Services, Richmond.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Akiko C. Kimura, Division of Communicable Disease Control, California Department of Health Services, 19300 S Hamilton Ave, Suite 140, Gardena, CA 90248 (e-mail: akimura{at}dhs.ca.gov).

Objectives. We examined barriers to influenza vaccination among long-term care facility (LTCF) health care workers in Southern California and developed simple, effective interventions to improve influenza vaccine coverage of these workers.

Methods. In 2002, health care workers at LTCFs were surveyed regarding their knowledge and attitudes about influenza and the influenza vaccine. Results were used to develop 2 interventions, an educational campaign and Vaccine Day (a well-publicized day for free influenza vaccination of all employees at the worksite). Seventy facilities were recruited to participate in an intervention trial and randomly assigned to 4 study groups.

Results. The combination of Vaccine Day and an educational campaign was most effective in increasing vaccine coverage (53% coverage; prevalence ratio [PR]=1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.24, 1.71, compared with 27% coverage in the control group). Vaccine Day alone was also effective (46% coverage; PR= 1.41; 95% CI=1.17, 1.71). The educational campaign alone was not effective in improving coverage levels (34% coverage; PR=1.18; 95% CI=0.93, 1.50).

Conclusion. Influenza vaccine coverage of LTCF health care workers can be improved by providing free vaccinations at the worksite with a well-publicized Vaccine Day.