Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2660178 | The Journal for Nurse Practitioners | 2016 | 4 Pages |
•Influenza has the potential to cause great concern on college campuses.•An evidence-based initiative to increase influenza vaccination uptake.•The use of evidence-based strategies can increase influenza vaccination among college students.•The utilization of various promotional strategies can help college health professionals target health messages to increase student awareness.
Influenza, a severe acute respiratory illness, infects between 5% and 20% of the United States population annually. Immunization is recognized as the best protection against influenza. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended annual immunization (> 6 months); however, < 42% of the population and < 20% of college students receive an annual vaccination. An evidence-based awareness project was implemented in a college health setting to increase the number of influenza vaccinations administered. The number of students vaccinated at the college increased by 226%. The use of evidence-based strategies by college health practitioners can target health messages to increase student awareness.