Administration of Inactivated Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV) to Parents of Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A Novel Strategy to Increase Vaccination Rates

Background:

Infants less than 23 months of age with influenza ‐ particularly those discharged from the NICU ‐ demonstrate significant morbidity. TIV is indicated for all parents and household caretakers of these infants. However, vaccination rates for influenza in this population is estimated at 30%; with access and convenience of immunization cited as major obstacles toward higher compliance.

Purpose:

To eliminate barriers to immunization for this specific adult‐cohort, we implemented a NICU‐based program to administer TIV to parents while in the NICU.

Description:

All house officers and nursing staff were educated about the need to immunize these adults and instructed to reinforce the need to obtain immunization. Upon admission ‐ a letter describing the danger of influenza in hospitalized infants and emphasizing TIV was available in the NICU free‐of‐charge ‐ was placed at all patient's bedsides. TIV was administered by house staff, fellows, nurse practioners and attending staff and available 20hrs/day. Informed consent and a preliminary health assessment targeted toward contraindications of TIV administration was obtained. Vaccine expiration date, lot number and site of injection were recorded and stored in the infants chart.

Summary of Results:

Over the four‐week study period, 31 children (60 parents) were admitted to the NICU with gestational ages ranging from 24 to 41 weeks. Five parents received the vaccine from their obstetrician. Vaccination rate was 95% (57 parents of 28 infants). 27% of the parent population had never received TIV, despite having previous indications for immunization (smoking, asthma, or other children less than 23 months). 33% of the population received TIV for the first time. There were no differences in vaccination rate based on parental age. No allergic reactions to vaccination were observed. The program improves access and convenience to TIV and is an effective means of increasing vaccination rates in this specific population. This program allows for an increase in first‐time vaccination of parents who were previously eligible to receive TIV, but were never immunized.

Author Disclosure Block:

S. Shah, None; M. Caprio, None; K. Hendricks‐Munoz, None.