Roll Up Your Sleeves: ID Groups Want Vaccines Mandatory for Clinicians

By the Editors

The Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society are calling for universal immunization of healthcare workers by healthcare institutions as recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the groups said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Calling vaccination the most effective means to protect patients, the groups say it should be a condition of employment. For those who can't be vaccinated for medical reasons, according to the statement, infection-control measures should be taken (e.g., such workers should be re-assigned away from direct patient care).