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Influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare workers during the first two seasons of data collection, Finland, 2017-2019

Background: Influenza can cause severe illness among high-risk groups such as elderly and immunocompromised patients. Mandatory influenza vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) has been viewed as means to improve patient and HCW protection. Methods: We analyzed data collected by a web-based survey sent annually to all Finnish acute care hospitals and described the influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs during seasons 2017/18 (without mandate) and 2018/19 (mandate enforced). Results: In season 2017/2018, 38/39 hospitals provided data and 35/36 hospitals in 2018/2019. The mean coverage in season 2017/18 was 88% (median, 84%; range 48-100%) and in 2018/19 91% (median, 91%; range 57-100%). The mean increase from season 2017/2018 to 2018/2019 was 6.5% (median, 3%; range -11.0-33.0%). Conclusions: The coverage of influenza vaccinated HCWs in Finnish hospitals was high. However, there were major differences between hospitals which raise the question about data quality as well as implementation of the mandate, and need further evaluation.