Influenza Vaccine 2013 News Update: Health Workers to Get Flu Shot

Health workers have been required to get their flu shot in preparation for vaccination season, according to the Wausau Daily Herald.

This vaccination requirement for health workers had been made by the National Healthcare Safety Network of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as early as January, and hospitals and care facilities that could not meet the vaccination metrics target could suffer reduction in Medicare reimbursement.

In Los Angeles, Public Health director Dr. Jonathan Fielding recently issued a mandate that health workers serving in hospitals, nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities should have their annual flu shot or wear a protective mask while attending to patients, according to Los Angeles Times. Fielding disclosed that the mandate he issued is part of the effort to make vaccination season a success across the United States. He said, "This mandate offers our best chance to achieve success; getting vaccinated is one of the most important steps that healthcare personnel can take to protect their patients and themselves from the flu."

In Wisconsin, several health clinics have followed suit, including the Marshfield Clinic. President and CEO of the facility, Dr. Brian Ewert, said that requiring their workers to get vaccinated themselves is actually necessary. He explained, "We want to enhance health and not contribute to illness," according to Wausau Daily Herald. Ewert has even extended the requirement to cover all Marshfield Clinic employees, even those who don't come in contact with patients, or those who work in the field.

Other health care facilities in the area, such as the Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital located in Marshfield, Ministry Saint Michael's Hospital located in Stevens Point and Ministry Saint Clare's Hospital located in Weston mandated the same requirement for all employees unless they applied for religious or medical exemptions. These facilities are operated by the Ministry Health Care, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Kehrberg revealed that in the previous year, their employees had the option to get vaccinated or wear a protective mask. The policy has changed this year, as Kehrberg believes requiring each and every employee to be vaccinated is indeed necessary. He said, "The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has said this is the right thing to do going forward, and the Wisconsin Hospital Association has taken the position that vaccination is the right thing to do," reports the Wausau Daily Herald.

In the past year, a good number of health workers have resisted getting their vaccination, even though some states such as California offer the flu shots free for those in the health profession. The nurses reportedly regard the requirement as 'punitive,' as they believe vaccination does not fully guarantee prevention of infection, reports the Los Angeles Times.