# 4702
There are few subjects that produce as much dissention and debate among healthcare workers as attempts to mandate vaccination of HCWs against influenza.
To some, this seems purely a patient and co-worker safety and welfare issue, while to others this is all about the individual right to decide what they will or will not put into their bodies.
Given the controversial nature of this sort of edict, the emphasis has been on `softer’ approaches.
In the United States, Canada, and the UK HCW (Healthcare Worker) flu vaccination rates most years run only about 40%.
Some facilities, through hard fought promotional campaigns, have boosted that rate to 80% and 90%.
Last year New York State attempted to require vaccination as a requirement to work as a HCW, but legal challenges and vaccine shortages forced them to abandon – at least temporarily – that mandate (see New York Rescinds Mandatory Flu Shots For HCWs).
- Some hospitals around the nation have adopted mandatory vaccination – or require the wearing of masks by unvaccinated workers during flu season.
- APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) has been promoting the idea of mandatory flu shots for HCWs for over a year (see APIC Seeking Mandatory Flu Shot For HCWs)
- And the New York State Health Department indicates that they will pursue mandatory vaccination again in 2010, assuming adequate vaccine supplies are available.
While strongly advocating HCW influenza vaccination, the CDC in its recently updated has stopped short of mandating them in its proposed guidance on influenza infection control
Similarly, a UK Department of Health report issued last week called Learning The Lessons From the H1N1 Vaccination Campaign For Healthcare Workers – while not mandating vaccination – stresses the `professional duty’ of all HCWs to get the vaccine.
If fact, the word `Duty’ appears four times in the 31-page document.
Set out the expectation that is the professional duty of staff to protect their patients by taking the vaccine
“Strong clinical and director lead communications messages around staff receiving swine flu
vaccination as part of their professional duty and responsibility“ - Bradford Teaching Hospitals
Reminding clinical staff their duty to act professionally and give advice based on CMO and JCV1 information, not on personal opinion.
Continual emphasis on message that staff had a duty to receive the vaccine and would be demonstrating their professional responsibility by receiving it.
The report outlines four major themes for a successful vaccination campaign.
- Flexible and accessible delivery approaches
- Visible leadership
- Effective communications strategy
- Attention to the basics of having a robust plan with clear governance arrangements and supported by sound project management
As the report reminds us, the new H1N1 virus is expected to be the major component of this fall’s flu season and continued vaccination efforts for frontline medical staff are urged to continue through the summer.
We’ll have to wait to see if these motivational concepts prove effective in boosting the seasonal flu vaccination rates among UK HCWs this fall.
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