Should healthcare workers be required to be vaccinated against influenza?

摘要

It is time for mandatory influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP). We have all seen the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2012a, 2012b; Thompson et al., 2010). We know influenza kills. It is estimated that up to 49,000 deaths in the United States each year are related to influenza, the majority in adults age 65 and older (Thompson et al., 2010). Influenza is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in the United States (Thompson et al., 2010).The best way to prevent flu, and therefore flu-related deaths, is influenza vaccination (CDC, 2012a). The CDC has recommended influenza vaccine for all HCP since 1981. Vaccine effectiveness in healthy adults under the age of 65 is between 70% and 90% (CDC, 2012a). Vaccination of HCP reduces patient mortality (2012a).