Best Practices for Vaccinating Healthcare Workers Against Influenza

As manufacturers have begun shipping vaccine for the 2014-2015 flu season and vaccination programs are in full force, hospitals are feeling the pressure to make vaccinations mandatory for employees. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the vaccine is the most effective means of protecting workers and adds a crucial layer of safety for highly vulnerable patients such as newborns, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

The best way to prevent transmission of influenza to patients is to mandate vaccination of healthcare workers. Last winter, just under two-thirds of healthcare workers got a seasonal flu shot, according to the CDC, even though universal vaccination of healthcare workers is supported by numerous scientific and medical groups. In fact, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is expected to make flu vaccination rates an item on which a hospital’s quality of care is rated by next year.

This guide provides information on the best practices used for vaccinating healthcare workers against influenza as well as links to additional resources, forms and examples of employee communication methods.