- Practice 'Fight Flu' Toolkit
- Workplace Toolkit
Health Professionals
Less than half the people under 65 who are at risk of developing complications from influenza are being vaccinated. Only 20 to 50 per cent of health care workers are vaccinated annually, even though they are at an increased risk of both getting and spreading influenza.
As we approach another flu season, the need to raise awareness of the risks associated with influenza and encourage vaccinations in these groups is becoming urgent.
The National Institute of Clinical Studies identified some significant barriers to influenza vaccination in both the 'at risk' groups under 65 years of age and those people who provide their care such as family members, doctors, nurses, hospital and medical practice staff, pharmacists and personal carers. These barriers include many of the myths associated with influenza together with issues around access and cost.
The most effective vaccination campaigns involve a combination of strategies which address beliefs and barriers to vaccination, and which ensure convenient and free access.
In this section, you'll find information, tools and tips to help identify and communicate with those at risk and ensure carers and health care providers are also protected.
Vaccination barriers
Health professionals have been extremely successful in getting the influenza vaccination message to the over 65 age group, with vaccination rates in this group now at 79 per cent. The challenge is to bring the current rate of below 50 per cent amongst 'at risk' groups below 65 years of age up to a similar level. Barriers exist on several levels:
Barriers for 'at risk' groups
Delivery barriers
- Lack of recall system to alert GPs to patients at risk
- Clinical software provides too many prompts so they may be ignored or switched off
- Lack of a system for delivering large numbers of vaccinations
- Lack of staff (practice or immunisation nurses) to assist in administering vaccinations
- A focus on the over 65 age group
Personal barriers
- Belief that the vaccine isn't effective
- Belief that the vaccine gives people the flu
- The inconvenience of two visits to the doctor and one to the chemist
- The cost of vaccination
- Lack of awareness of who is 'at risk'
- Cultural barriers to vaccination awareness
- Fear of an adverse reaction
- A sense of being overwhelmed by chronic illness
- Needle phobia
- Lack of awareness about the serious nature of influenza
Barriers for health care workers
Delivery barriers
- Lack of access to convenient and free workplace vaccinations
- Lack of education about the serious and contagious nature of influenza
- Absence of a workplace champion or support of vaccinations at an organisational level.
Personal barriers
- Belief that the vaccine is not effective
- Belief that people who are in general good health don't need to be vaccinated
- Lack of awareness about the potential for people to die from influenza related complications
- Lack of knowledge about the highly infectious nature of influenza
- Belief that vaccine can cause influenza or an adverse reaction
- Unwillingness to pay for vaccination
- Lack of awareness of who is 'at risk'
- Needle phobia
- Belief that they have good natural immunity from regular exposure to sick people
- Lack of awareness of the evidence supporting vaccination.
Barrier busters
Know who is at risk
Recent surveys conducted by NICS confirm confusion amongst health care workers and the community as to who is at risk of influenza and its complications as a major barrier to vaccinations.
To help you overcome these barriers, NICS has developed this 'Fight flu' website. A complete list of people considered 'at risk' of developing complications from influenza is found on the Who is at Risk? page. The contents are based on NICS research and the most authoritative national guide, the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, (section 3:9)(External Link).
This Handbook also recommends vaccination of health care workers and students who are in contact with patients. Influenza is a highly contagious disease so vaccinating health care workers protects them, their colleagues and all the other people in their care. There is increasing support, both nationally and internationally, for employers and health care organisations to provide free influenza vaccinations to health care workers and other staff who have contact with patients.
Share the facts
Myths about influenza have a serious impact on people's willingness to be vaccinated. If you're not sure about the facts, go to FLU Facts and Fight Flu Evidence.
This website has been designed to help you share accurate evidence-based information on influenza with your colleagues, family and patients. There are tips on running immunisation campaigns in your workplace and tools to help get the information out.
Vaccinate!
There are numerous strategies known to be effective in increasing vaccination rates in both health care workers and ‘at risk’ groups. We’ve provided ‘ tips to increase workplace vaccinations’ and ‘ tips to increase patient vaccinations’ based on the latest evidence.
The economics of vaccination
Individuals
Vaccination is free for people over 65 years of age. It is also free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 50 years of age or aged 15 to 49 with risk factors. For all other people, vaccination is subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and is available by prescription.
An increasing number of organizations are offering funded workplace vaccinations to staff. While the cost of vaccination is an out of pocket expense for those not covered by their workplace vaccinations, this must be weighed against the possible loss of work and income during a two week bout of influenza and the risk of infecting others.
Organisations
The most effective way of increasing workplace vaccinations is to ensure they are free and convenient.
A cost analysis study conducted at the King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women and the Princess Margaret Hospital in Western Australia found that $65 was saved per staff member vaccinated. This study considered the cost of replacement or agency staff, the cost of vaccine, cost of an immunization nurse and time lost from adverse reactions.
When applied to a standard teaching hospital, the Western Australia study found that for a 4,000 bed hospital, a 50 per cent vaccination rate can deliver a saving of around $130,000 per annum.