There are different approaches to maximizing influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers, but the question is whether incentive-based campaigns or penalty-based incentives are more effective.
To test the different approaches, researches assessed the impact of the campaigns at a large ambulatory cancer center with baseline compliance that was already high (more than 85 percent).
After implementing both approaches for one year, the researchers found both significantly improved the baseline rates of vaccinations. Nevertheless, the penalty-based staff vaccination program was more effective.
Additionally, the study found staff with direct patient contact had significantly higher vaccination rates compared with those with indirect and minimal patient contact in every campaign year, except in the penalty-driven campaign year from 2012.
Regardless of the approach used, high compliance with systemwide influenza vaccination was accomplished without requiring mandatory vaccines, according to the study findings published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
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