Flu: Mandatory Vaccinations for Hospital Employees

Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that all healthcare workers receive seasonal flu shots, only about 40 percent do so. Now some infectious diseases experts and hospitals say flu shots should be mandatory. 10/09/2009

Health experts at the CDC and elsewhere are predicting that the coming flu season may be a particularly difficult one with the presence of both seasonal flu and the novel H1N1 ("swine") flu. For 25 years, the CDC has strongly recommended that health-care workers receive an annual vaccination for the seasonal flu.

Even though the vaccine is not 100 percent effective, the CDC says it is the "most effective method for preventing influenza virus infection and potentially severe complications."

Loyola is among the first medical centers in the U.S.A. to make flu shots mandatory. Last year when the seasonal flu shot was offered as part of an emergency-vaccination drill, Loyola and the Stritch School of Medicine reached a vaccination rate of 73 percent. This year, with the vaccination being a condition of employment, the rate is expected to be 100 percent.

"We know that the seasonal flu shot is safe and effective. It reduces infections and absenteeism among employees, prevents transmission to patients and reduces patient hospitalization and mortality," said Dr. Jorge Parada, medical director of infection control, LUHS. "We are committed to taking the right steps to minimize risk to our patients and our employees."

MEDICA.de; Quelle: Loyola University

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