Memorial Sloan Kettering aims for 90% staff vaccinated for flu

NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Most staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York have been vaccinated against influenza, hospital officials say.

The results come about nine weeks into a campaign to have employees vaccinated against influenza,

Responding to new regulations from New York State's Department of Health requiring all healthcare personnel to be vaccinated against influenza or wear a mask in areas where patients may be present, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center kicked off a vigorous campaign to raise awareness of the new rules and to vaccinate employees, officials said.

"About nine weeks into the campaign, more than 70 percent of our approximately 13,500 employees had received vaccinations; we expect that figure to climb to more than 90 percent by Dec. 1," hospital officials said in a statement.

"Last season, Memorial Sloan Kettering's vaccination rate from early September 2012 through the end of March 2013 was 61.7 percent."

The hospital offered weekday vaccination sessions at five of its New York City out-patient sites, as well as at its regional clinical sites throughout the New York City metropolitan area, including Long Island, New Jersey and Westchester County.