Protecting Healthcare Personnel, Patients
As part of the MHA's partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to strongly encourage hospitals to vaccinate healthcare personnel (HCP), the MHA provides the following resources to protect patients, staff and visitors from preventable diseases such as influenza and pertussis, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A 2016 MDHHS survey showed that 77 percent of Michigan hospitals had mandatory flu vaccination policies for all staff and 41 percent had mandatory pertussis vaccination policies. These rates demonstrate significant progress since a 2013 survey, when rates were 65 percent for flu and 29 percent for pertussis.
Given this progress in HCP flu vaccination, Michigan hospitals are within reach of the 90 percent target set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 national objectives. However, more work is needed to ensure patients don’t contract pertussis, a highly contagious disease commonly known as whooping cough. Policies that strongly encourage vaccination have proved to increase HCP coverage rates.
The Hospital Compare website includes information on influenza vaccination rates for both HCP and patients under Timely and Effective Care, Preventive Care. In addition, the MDHHS urges healthcare providers to use the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) to document all vaccine administration.
Hospitals can use the resources below to determine whether their policies adequately protect their HCP against influenza and pertussis. Contact the MHA for additional information on protecting everyone in the hospital from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Healthcare Personnel Vaccine Recommendations
Hospital Tools for Vaccination Policies
Resources and Additional Information on Reporting Requirements
NHSN CMS Requirements (
CMS Reporting -> Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination (Acute Care Hospitals)
HCP Influenza Vaccination