Talking Points
Mandated Influenza Vaccinations: The many issues surrounding the new regulation
By itself, vaccination of healthcare personnel will not stop the spread of influenza.
- Even if the vaccine is effective, recipients can still contract and harbor the virus, and then transmit influenza to other individuals.
- To protect employees and patients, facilities should have N-95, fit-tested respirator masks for staff to use when in contact with patients or residents with confirmed or suspected influenza.
- Strict isolation should be enforced for confirmed or suspected patients or residents.
- All staff must practice good hand hygiene.
- All people coming into contact with patients or residents, including family members and visitors, should also be immunized.
- Convenient, affordable influenza immunizations must be available to the public.
Influenza vaccinations are only effective if the proper strain is identified. In the case of H1N1, no vaccine has yet been approved.
- A minimum of two injections will be needed for the H1N1 influenza, along with the seasonal influenza vaccine.
- The H1N1 vaccine has not been approved and there are mutations already identified with H1N1 influenza.
- The three or more immunizations may not be effective if another mutant strain emerges.
The policy problems surrounding this requirement have not been resolved.
- Making vaccine is a long, multi-step process requiring several months to complete; the safety of the H1N1 vaccine may not be known for some time.
- It is likely that there will not be enough vaccine to immunize both healthcare workers and other persons at risk for flu complications.
- The regulation denies personal freedom by not allowing healthcare personnel to refuse injections for religious or philosophical reasons, which may increase the shortage of nurses. This impact has not been analyzed by the state.
- There is no guidance about the impact on staff who are not immunized of are considered to be at high risk for influenza for medical reasons; will they be removed from direct patient care.