{"id":1599,"date":"2017-12-15T16:56:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T16:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wimetest.com\/blog\/?p=1599"},"modified":"2024-05-10T13:45:04","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T20:45:04","slug":"should-flu-shots-be-mandatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildirismedicaleducation.com\/blog\/should-flu-shots-be-mandatory","title":{"rendered":"Mandatory Flu Shot for Healthcare Workers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Anja Grimes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Seasonal influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk of serious flu complications.
The CDC recommends that healthcare professionals get vaccinated each year as the best way to prevent the flu. However, the CDC does not issue any requirements or mandates for state agencies, health systems, or healthcare workers regarding influenza vaccination or the use of masks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As per the\u00a0CDC, the annual direct costs\u2014such as hospital and doctor\u2019s office visits and medications\u2014of influenza in the United States are an estimated $4.6 billion. The flu causes U.S. workers to lose up to 111 million workdays at an estimated $7 billion a year in sick days and lost productivity.
These numbers highlight the rationale for organizations and hospitals to consider requiring employees to get an annual flu shot. However, before implementing such a requirement, hospitals and organizations need to weigh many different factors. While a flu vaccine offers the greatest protection against the virus, mandating it carries its own logistical costs and can lead to unhappy employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flu Vaccination: Personal Choice or Employer Mandate?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Influenza<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Recently, 50 healthcare employees were fired after refusing a flu shot at Essential Health in Minnesota. \u201cPurely voluntary [vaccination] or more education doesn\u2019t get you those high levels of immunization compliance,\u201d said Dr. Rajesh Prabhu, the company\u2019s chief of patient quality and safety. Prabhu said it was essential that he take a mandatory approach. Since September, Essentia has told employees, volunteers, students, and vendors that they have three options: get the flu shot, get an approved religious or medical exemption, or leave Essentia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many hospitals have implemented mandatory flu vaccine programs because it reduces strain on the workforce and because programs like these are thought to reduce transmission of flu to patients, thus reducing their length of stay and readmissions. Most hospitals have exceptions for religious or health reasons, and if an employee doesn’t get a flu shot, they may be required to wear a mask in public\/patient areas. In addition to wearing masks, proper handwashing and isolation of sick patients can decrease spreading of the flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC recommends that healthcare professionals get vaccinated each year as the best way to prevent the flu.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The primary arguments for mandatory vaccinations for healthcare professionals are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n