Healthcare Facilities Should Require Staff Vaccinations to Prepare for H1N1

In the past, Marshfield has encouraged employees to be vaccinated during the flu season, offering educational programs and incentives. The facility even created a humorous educational video to get staff members on board with receiving the vaccination. Although the employee vaccination rate for the seasonal flu did increase, the rate had not met the administration's goal.

"This is a patient-centered policy in that we're an advocate for patient safety and we want to provide as safe an environment for our patients and employees as we can," says Cunha. "We know that vaccination of as many employees as we can is part of that safety effort."

APIC wants facilities to take a step further by obtaining informed statements from employees who decide not to vaccinate themselves for nonmedical reasons, acknowledging that their actions put patients at risk.

"Employees who are not vaccinated can transmit both seasonal flu and H1N1 virus to vulnerable patients in healthcare institutions," said Nutty. "Current rates of healthcare worker immunizations are appallingly low and must not be tolerated. It's time for hospitals to require flu shots—and hold employees accountable for declining the vaccine."