Mandatory Healthcare Worker Flu Immunization Decreases Absenteeism

Requiring healthcare workers to be immunized against influenza reduced workplace absenteeism.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended annual influenza immunization for healthcare workers (HCWs) since 1984, many HCWs continue to decline the vaccine, and the benefits of HCW vaccination continue to be challenged. To provide further data on this issue, investigators undertook a cluster-randomized study of HCW absenteeism due to symptomatic influenza-like illness (SILI) over three influenza seasons. Outpatient HCWs from three university healthcare systems that mandated HCW influenza immunization and four Veterans Affairs (VA) health systems that offered but did not mandate HCW influenza immunization were asked to voluntarily report their immunization status as well as days of absenteeism due to SILI.

During…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Mandatory Healthcare Worker Flu Immunization Decreases Absenteeism

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Reviewing Author