Pressroom

Source: Medscape

By: Lowes, Robert

08/31/2010

Healthcare professionals should be required to get vaccinated against seasonal flu, or else lose their jobs or professional privileges, according to a position paper from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). The paper, also endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, argues that allowing healthcare workers to skip these vaccines is comparable to allowing physicians and nurses to neglect scrubbing before a surgical procedure. “SHEA views influenza vaccination of HCP [healthcare personnel] as a core patient and HCP safety practice with which non-compliance should not be tolerated,” according to the paper, published in this month’s Infection Control and Healthcare Epidemiology. “SHEA endorses a policy in which annual influenza vaccination is a condition of both initial and continued HCP employment and/or professional privileges.” HCP vaccination not only prevents virus transmission to patients but also reduces the risk of HCPs contracting an infection themselves. This can help preserve the healthcare workforce, contribute to “herd immunity,” and set a good example. SHEA’s position paper updates a statement issued in 2005 and recommends mandatory vaccination for all HCPs in all healthcare settings, regardless of patient contact and whether or not they are directly employed by the healthcare facility.