Failure to Offer Influenza Vaccine and Provide Education Upon Admission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to offer the influenza vaccine and provide education regarding influenza immunizations to a resident admitted during influenza season. According to facility policy, all residents without medical contraindications should be offered the influenza vaccine annually, and pertinent information about the risks and benefits of the vaccine should be provided. The resident in question had a history of acute respiratory failure with hypoxia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was admitted with severe cognitive impairment. The resident's immunization history showed the last influenza vaccination was several years prior, and there was no documentation of a more recent vaccination or a facility-specific declination form. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the resident was not offered the influenza vaccine upon admission, despite the expectation that this should occur during influenza season. The Director of Staff Development and the Director of Nursing both acknowledged that the process was not followed, possibly due to a change in infection prevention personnel at the time of admission. The Case Manager confirmed that the facility's practice is to re-offer immunizations and obtain a facility-specific declination even if a vaccine was refused in another setting, but this was not done for the resident.