Approximately 36,000 deaths in the U.S. each year are caused by the seasonal flu, according to CDC reports. Achieving near 100 percent vaccination rates among healthcare workers can cut patient deaths from flu by 40 percent. The CDC strongly recommends that all healthcare workers receive a flu vaccination.

Quality Quest has tracked the percentage of hospital employees immunized for the seasonal flu on our website since 2009.  (See the 2009 and 2010 numbers by clicking on the left sidebar.)  As a result, our participating hospitals raised immunization rates to 76 percent during the 2009/2010 season compared to national rates of 44 percent.  The percentage jumped to 81 percent for the 2010/2011 flu season. By the end of the 2011/2012 flu season, the number reached 90 percent. Proctor Hospital, all OSF Healthcare System hospitals, HSHS St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur, HSHS St. John's Hospital, Springfield, and Decatur Memorial Hospital have implemented a universal immunization policy. We applaud all of these hospitals and thank our participants for being part of the Quest flu reporting program.