Infectious Respiratory Illness
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- Viral Respiratory Illness in Minnesota (Data & Statistics)
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Related Topics
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Diphtheria
- Enterovirus D68
- Influenza (flu)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- Legionellosis (Legionella): Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever
- Measles (rubeola)
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
- Pertussis
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Rubella (German Measles)
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI)
- Tuberculosis
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Immunization
- Cover Your Cough
- Hand Hygiene
Contact Info
RespSafe
RespSafe is an immunization improvement program for employees of long-term care facilities and hospitals designed to protect health care workers and their most vulnerable patients through increasing influenza and COVID-19 immunization rates of health care personnel. |  |
About RespSafe
Long-term care facilities and hospitals will be recognized for having high influenza and COVID-19 vaccination rates among their health care personnel. Rates will be tracked between Oct. 1 to Mar. 31, to align with the CDC: National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting guidelines.
Participating facilities will also select two best practice activities to implement. MDH will recognize facilities based on their achieved coverage rates in a tiered award system. Recommended activities to improve vaccination coverage for health care personnel can be found on Vaccinating Health Care Workers: Influenza and COVID-19.
Recognition tiers
- Bronze: Participated and implemented strategies but did not meet 80% coverage goals.
- Silver: Participated and implemented strategies, met 80% coverage goal for flu OR COVID-19.
- Gold: Participated and implemented strategies, met 80% coverage goal for flu AND COVID-19.
Instructions for participating
Those who choose to participate in RespSafe must enroll in VaxCheck, a Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) application that allows facilities and hospitals to invite employees to sign an electronic consent form so that MDH can share their influenza and COVID-19 immunization data for the current respiratory season based on data reported to the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC). VaxCheck will launch in the fall of 2024. Enter your email address below to sign up to receive updates about the RespSafe program, including when VaxCheck is available for use.
Those who participate in MIIC are reminded that accessing an employee’s immunization history for employment verification or any other purposes is not allowable. RespSafe participating facilities must still enroll in VaxCheck.
Who is eligible
- Long-term care facilities (LTCs) and hospitals. LTC is defined as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), intermediate care facilities (ICF), or medical hospital by the Minnesota Department of Human Services 2.4.2.4 MA-LTC Long-Term Care Facility Services.
- Health care personnel are defined as all paid employees and licensed independent practitioners who are physically present in the health care facility for at least one working day from Oct. 1 through Mar. 31 of the current influenza season.
How to register
Registration information will be shared when it is available. To receive up to date RespSafe program information sign up to for email updates below. You will be notified when registration becomes available and for other relevant program information.
Additional questions can be emailed to the RespSafe inbox at health.respsafe.mdh@state.mn.us.
Resources
- WebEx: RespSafe Introductory Webinar
Initial information on the RespSafe program along with basic participation information. Recorded on Sept. 24, 2024.