Should influenza immunisation be mandatory for healthcare workers? Yes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Charles Helms and Philip Polgreen believe that mandatory immunisation is necessary to achieve good uptake, but David Isaacs and Julie Leask (doi:10.1136/bmj.a2140) argue that it infringes autonomy and could backfire Influenza is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Health care associated influenza occurs in acute and long term healthcare facilities, affecting both patients and staff and disrupting delivery of care.1 2 There is evidence that vaccinating long term care healthcare workers reduces mortality among long term care patients and that vaccinating hospital workers decreases the rate of nosocomial influenza in hospitalised patients.3 4 5 6 Moreover, an economic evaluation of immunisation of healthcare workers in the UK found that it is cost saving.7 In addition, further studies show that healthcare worker vaccination reduces absenteeism.8 9 10 Based on available evidence, public health authorities have strongly recommended vaccination of healthcare workers to protect patients and healthcare workers in healthcare settings.11 Despite these recommendations, overall rates of …