The December 18, 2015 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) included the report of a recent incident at an employee flu vaccination clinic in New Jersey
This article details the injection safety, infection control, vaccine administration and vaccine storage and handling errors committed by a health services company contracted to provide an employee flu vaccination clinic, and how the state immunization program responded to the situation. Sixty-seven employees who received flu vaccine at the clinic were notified that they should be screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, and receive hepatitis B vaccine, if indicated. In addition, re-vaccination with influenza vaccine as recommended. CDC continues to promote safe injection and vaccine management practices, and encourages its public health partners to do the same. The following are summary messages, recommendations and some helpful web resources for immunization service providers and businesses planning vaccination clinics.
Take-Home Messages
- Millions of people safely receive vaccinations each year.
- Proper injection safety, vaccine administration, and vaccine storage and handling are critical to ensuring vaccination is safe and effective.
- When infection control breaches occur, they highlight the need for continued education and training of immunization service providers on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for injection safety, vaccine administration, and vaccine storage and handling.
Recommended Actions
- Immunization service providers should ensure their staff adhere to CDC guidelines for infection prevention, vaccine administration, and vaccine storage and handling practices.
- Businesses retaining the services of an immunization service provider can use CDC guidelines to help them assess the provider’s knowledge and skills regarding vaccine administration, injection safety, and vaccine storage and handling, as well as the provider’s procedures for ensuring that vaccination clinic staff follow CDC guidelines.
Resources
Guidelines for Large-Scale Influenza Vaccination Clinic Planning. – Updated
This webpage provides guidelines and recommendations to assist with planning influenza vaccination clinics. Topics include clinic logistics as well as vaccine storage, handling, and administration.
CDC At-A-Glance Resource Guide – Vaccine Administration and Storage and Handling.
This is a quick guide to key web resources on immunization, vaccine administration, and vaccine storage and handling. The guide includes CDC guidelines, an immunization checklist, educational webinars, and standing orders.
MDPH Influenza Vaccine Guidelines and Tools.
This webpage contains information about influenza vaccine and links to guidance about planning flu and other mass immunization campaigns, standing orders, screening forms, consent forms, and MDPH-specific vaccine management guidance.
One & Only Campaign – Co-Sponsored by CDC
The One & Only Campaign is a public health campaign, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC), to raise awareness among patients and healthcare providers about safe injection practices.
- Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Safe Practices for Medical Injections
- Pocket Card on Injection Safety Guidelines from CDC