TY - JOUR
T1 - Vaccinating health care workers against influenza
T2 - The ethical and legal rationale for a mandate
AU - Ottenberg, Abigale L.
AU - Wu, Joel T.
AU - Poland, Gregory A.
AU - Jacobson, Robert M.
AU - Koenig, Barbara A.
AU - Tilburt, Jon C.
PY - 2011/2/1
Y1 - 2011/2/1
N2 - Despite improvements in clinician education, symptom awareness, and respiratory precautions, influenza vaccination rates for health care workers have remained unacceptably low for more than three decades, adversely affecting patient safety. When public health is jeopardized, and a safe, low-cost, and effective method to achieve patient safety exists, health care organizations and public health authorities have a responsibility to take action and change the status quo. Mandatory influenza vaccination for health care workers is supported not only by scientific data but also by ethical principles and legal precedent. The recent influenza pandemic provides an opportunity for policymakers to reconsider the benefits of mandating influenza vaccination for health care workers, including building public trust, enhancing patient safety, and strengthening the health care workforce.
AB - Despite improvements in clinician education, symptom awareness, and respiratory precautions, influenza vaccination rates for health care workers have remained unacceptably low for more than three decades, adversely affecting patient safety. When public health is jeopardized, and a safe, low-cost, and effective method to achieve patient safety exists, health care organizations and public health authorities have a responsibility to take action and change the status quo. Mandatory influenza vaccination for health care workers is supported not only by scientific data but also by ethical principles and legal precedent. The recent influenza pandemic provides an opportunity for policymakers to reconsider the benefits of mandating influenza vaccination for health care workers, including building public trust, enhancing patient safety, and strengthening the health care workforce.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78751492621&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2009.190751
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2009.190751
M3 - Review article
C2 - 21228284
AN - SCOPUS:78751492621
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 101
SP - 212
EP - 216
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 2
ER -