141st APHA Annual Meeting

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283659
Retrospective seasonal influenza vaccination rates and illnesses among non-health insured employees at Virginia tech

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Christopher Pelosi, Master of Public Health Candidate (2013) , Population Health Sciences Department, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cynthia Karlsson, MS, current MPH candidate (2013) and PhD candidate (2015) , Virginia Tech Employee Wellness, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Francois Elvinger, Dr med vet, PhD , Population Health Sciences Department, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Data on vaccination rates and incidence of influenza-like illnesses are collected only for employees receiving health insurance through their Virginia Tech employment, but not for staff who is not eligible for health benefits. These data gaps hinder proper assessment of university personnel immunity and influenza like illness incidence, and pose a challenge when planning effective and efficient vaccination campaigns. Determine, based on a survey and supplemented by 3-year retrospective data, vaccine coverage and influenza-like illness incidence in non-health insured Virginia Tech employees, and compare to vaccine coverage and incidence in insured employees. A survey will be prepared and distributed to Virginia Tech employees to obtain data on past health benefit status, vaccination for seasonal influenza, and incidence of influenza-like illness in school years 2009/2010 through 2011/2012. These data will be supplemented by local health department data from a campaign targeting specifically non-insured Virginia Tech employees, and medical claims data from 2009 through 2012 from the Virginia Department of Human Resources and Management (DHRM). Data will be analyzed using univariate and multivariable categorical data analysis methods including logistic regression in SASŪ. Results are expected to indicate an association of health benefit status and vaccination status in Virginia Tech employees in past years. Findings will influence university personnel education and vaccination policies and, if warranted, lead to targeting in particular non-health insured employees for future seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
Assess the difference between health insured employees and non-health insured employees for influenza vaccination rates and the incidence of influenza-like illnesses, over the past three years.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am current graduate student in the Public Health department at Virginia Tech. I am working on a practicum based project, to examine previous influenza illnesses and vaccination participation for the faculty and staff at Virginia Tech from the past three years. My interest in the project is to determine the effects that non-benefited employees experience by not receiving the influenza vaccine and how many cases of influenza appear each year.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.