Impact of the BC Influenza Prevention Policy

In 2012, BC became the first province in Canada to implement a province-wide condition-of-service influenza prevention policy (henceforth “the policy”), including the requirement that health care workers either receive the seasonal influenza vaccine or wear a mask while in patient care areas for the duration of the influenza season. A research team that includes representation from the five regional Health Authorities, the BC Centre for Disease Control, Providence Health Care) and the Provincial Health Services Authority will evaluate the effectiveness of the policy in BC.

Principal Investigator:  Michelle Murti, Chief Medical Officer, Fraser Health Authority

Co-Investigator:  Dr. Monika Naus, BC Centre for Disease Control

Issue:  In 2012, BC became the first province in Canada to implement a province-wide condition-of-service influenza prevention policy (henceforth “the policy”), including the requirement that health care workers either receive the seasonal influenza vaccine or wear a mask while in patient care areas for the duration of the influenza season.

The goals of the policy are:

• To increase influenza immunization rates in healthcare workers employed in BC health authorities to 95%
• To prevent transmission of influenza from healthcare workers to patients/residents/clients and to other healthcare workers in healthcare facilities in BC
• To reduce influenza-related absenteeism in healthcare workers employed by health authorities in BC

Research Objectives: A research team that includes representation from the five regional Health Authorities, the BC Centre for Disease Control, Providence Health Care) and the Provincial Health Services Authority will evaluate the effectiveness of the policy in BC.  the research team will examine whether absenteeism rates due to all causes, and due to influenza and influenza-like illnesses, differ between healthcare workers (providing direct patient care) who have received seasonal vaccination compared to those who have not.  During the first year of the study, the team will also conduct a feasibility assessment of the data elements necessary to investigate influenza outbreaks in long-term care facilities in BC, to determine whether such outbreaks have changed with respect to incidence, duration and severity following implementation of the policy.