Letter to the EditorUnvaccinated health care workers must wear masks during flu season—A possibility to improve influenza vaccination rates?
Section snippets
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the members of the ad hoc committee:
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Dr. Jost Achenbach, Department of Internal Medicine/Pneumology
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Dr. Christian Brandt, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control
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Prof. Dr. H.R. Brodt, Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases
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Dr. Udo Götsch, City Health Office, Frankfurt
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Prof. Dr. Volkhard Kempf, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control
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Prof. Dr. H.F. Rabenau, Institute of Medical Virology
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Cited by (26)
Implementing a province-wide mandatory vaccinate-or-mask policy at healthcare facilities in British Columbia, Canada
2018, VaccineCitation Excerpt :British Columbia (BC) was the first province in Canada to implement a province-wide VOM policy, requiring HCW and anyone entering patient care areas (including visitors) to either receive the seasonal influenza vaccine or wear a mask while in patient care areas during the influenza season. Healthcare worker influenza immunization campaigns that achieved highest coverage involved policies with legislative or regulatory components such as declination forms or requiring mask-wearing for unvaccinated HCW [9,10]. In the United States, healthcare organizations have achieved HCW vaccination rates as high as 98.4% by requiring that HCW receive the vaccine or request a medical exemption, with the consequence of termination of employment for non-compliance [11].
Influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel
2016, Journal des Anti-InfectieuxVoluntary reporting of employee influenza vaccination rates by acute care hospitals in Iowa: The impact of a four year provider-based statewide performance improvement project
2011, VaccineCitation Excerpt :Fifth, we believe the use of evidence-based approaches used by hospital vaccination programs for improving influenza vaccination rates among HCWs was extensive. Such published material [18–25] was emphasized in the ‘tool kit’ made available through the project website. At the close of the second season, when the median hospital vaccination rate had already reached 82%, a sample of participating hospitals was asked about their use of various evidence-based approaches.
Implementation of mandatory immunisation of healthcare workers: Observations from New South Wales, Australia
2011, VaccineCitation Excerpt :Multiple barriers to achieving high immunisation rates of HCWs with necessary vaccines have been identified, primarily for influenza immunisation [14–17]. Most recently, a range of voluntary, evidence-based approaches to attaining high coverage for influenza immunisation among HCWs have been recommended, including convenient staff access to vaccine [18], pandemic drills [19,20], and required use of masks [21]. Declination statements have been associated with improved vaccination rates when combined with other strategies [22–25].
A Patient Safety Issue: Mandatory Influenza Vaccination for Health Care Workers
2010, Procedia in Vaccinology