Few health care workers quit after mandatory influenza vaccine program

Excessive voluntary termination did not occur after implementation of a mandatory influenza vaccination as a condition of employment, according to study results presented at the 40th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

“‘First, do no harm’ is our mandate as health care workers,” Jorge Parada, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, said in a press release. “We should do all we can not to pass along illness to our patients.”

Jorge Parada

The study conducted at Loyola University Medical Center began in 2009 when influenza vaccination was mandated as a condition of employment.

Researchers found that the baseline 3-year influenza vaccination rate was 65%, but in the 4 years since introduction of mandatory flu vaccination, a greater than 99% immunization rate was has been achieved and maintained.

In the first year of implementation (2009), 99.2% of employees received the vaccine, 0.7% were exempt for religious or medical reasons, and 0.1% refused vaccination, choosing to terminate employment. During the second year, 99.2% were vaccinated, 0.7% were exempt and 0.01% terminated employment. Ninety-nine percent were vaccinated in the third year, 1% were exempt and no one was terminated. Finally, in 2012, 98.7% were vaccinated, 1.2% were exempt and 0.06% were terminated (three were volunteers and the two staff members were 10% part time employees).

“Near-universal flu immunization is achievable and sustainable with a mandatory vaccination policy,” Parada said. “Our employees and associates now understand that this is the way we do business. Just as construction workers must wear steel-toed boots and hard hats on job sites, health care workers should get a flu shot to work in a hospital. We believe that patient and staff safety have been enhanced as a result.”

In 2011, the Associated for Professionals in Infection Control released a position paper for assist infection preventionists who are establishing a mandatory influenza vaccination policy.

For more information:

Greene LR. APIC Position Paper. Available at: www.apic.org/Resource_/TinyMceFileManager/Advocacy-PDFs/APIC_Influenza_Immunization_of_HCP_12711.PDF. Accessed June 12, 2013.
Parada JP. Abstract 012. Presented at: 40th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology; June 8-10, 2013; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.