Vaccinating health care workers against influenza: The ethical and legal rationale for a mandate

American Journal of Public Health

Volumn 101, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 212-216

  Ottenberg, Abigale L ^a   Wu, Joel T ^a   Poland, Gregory A ^a   Jacobson, Robert M ^a   Koenig, Barbara A ^a   Tilburt, Jon C ^a  

^a MAYO CLINIC   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

INFLUENZA VACCINE;

ARTICLE; ETHICS; HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL; HEALTH PERSONNEL ATTITUDE; HUMAN; LEGAL ASPECT; PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICE; PUBLIC HEALTH; UNITED STATES;

ATTITUDE OF HEALTH PERSONNEL; HEALTH PERSONNEL; HUMANS; IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMS; INFLUENZA VACCINES; PUBLIC HEALTH; UNITED STATES;

EID: 78751492621     PISSN: 00900036     EISSN: 15410048     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.190751     Document Type: Review

References (52)

1. Daines RF. Mandatory flu vaccine for health care workers: commissioner tells health care workers: mandatory flu vaccine is in the best interest of patients and workers. September 24, 2009. Available at: http://www.health.state. ny.us/press/releases/2009/2009-09-24-health-care-worker-vaccine-daines-oped.htm. Accessed October 19, 2009.
2. Health care facility personnel: influenza vaccination requirements. Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York, Title 10 (Health), Subpart 66-3 (2009).
3. Chan S, Hartocollis A. Judge halts mandatory flu vaccines for health care workers. New York Times. October 16, 2009. Available at: http://cityroom.blogs. nytimes.com/2009/10/16/judgehalts-mandatory-flu-vaccines-for-healthcare-workers. Accessed October 20, 2009.
4. Stewart AM. Mandatory vaccination of health care workers. N Engl J Med. 2009;361:2015-2017.
5. Governor David A. Patterson announces suspension of flu shot mandate for health care employees due to shortage of vaccine [press release]. October 22, 2009. Available at: http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/press-1022094.html. Accessed October 26, 2009.
6. Key facts about seasonal influenza (flu). 2007. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. Accessed November 13, 2009.
7. Poland GA, Tosh P, Jacobson RM. Requiring influenza vaccination for health care workers: seven truths we must accept. Vaccine. 2005;23:2251-2255.
8. Thompson WW, Shay DK, Weintraub E, et al. Mortality associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States. JAMA. 2003;289:179-186.
9. Chan M. World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic [press release]. June 11, 2009. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/ statements/2009/h1n1-pandemic-phase6-20090611/en/index.html. Accessed November 12, 2009.
10. President Obama signs emergency declaration for H1N1 flu. October 24, 2009. Available at: http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/ h1n1emergency10242009.html. Accessed October 26, 2009.
11. CDC estimates of 2009 H1N1 influenza cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States, April 2009-February 13, 2010. March 12, 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/estimates-2009-h1n1.htm. Accessed March 12, 2010.
12. Akazawa M, Sindelar JL, Paltiel AD. Economic costs of influenza-related work absenteeism. Value Health. 2003;6:107-115.
13. Nichol KL. The efficacy, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of inactivated influenza virus vaccines. Vaccine. 2003;21:1769-1775.
14. Sartor C, Zandotti C, Romain F, et al. Disruption of services in an internal medicine unit due to a nosocomial influenza outbreak. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2002;23:615-619.
15. Steckel CM. Mandatory influenza immunization for health care workers-an ethical discussion. AAOHN J. 2007;55:34-39.
16. Sullivan SJ, Jacobson R, Poland GA. Mandating influenza vaccination for healthcare workers. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2009;8:1469-1474.
17. Pearson ML, Bridges CB, Harper SA. Influenza vaccination of health-care personnel: recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) [published erratum appears in MMWR Recomm Rep. 2006;55(9):252].
18. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2006;55(RR-2): 1-16.
19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Interventions to increase influenza vaccination of healthcare workers - California and Minnesota. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2005;54:196-199.
20. Talbot TR, Bradley SE, Cosgrove SE, Ruef C, Siegel JD, Weber DJ. Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers and vaccine allocation for healthcare workers during vaccine shortages. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2005;26:882-890.
21. Hoffmann CJ, Perl TM. The next battleground for patient safety: influenza immunization of healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2005;26:850-851.
22. Information for healthcare professionals [Prevent Influenza Now! Web site]. Available at: http://www.preventinfluenza.org/profs-workers.asp. Accessed November 13, 2009.
23. Kuehn BM. Mandatory vaccination urged for clinicians, other health workers. JAMA. 2010;304:1545.
24. National Patient Safety Foundation supports mandatory flu vaccination for healthcare workers [press release]. November 18, 2009. Available at: http://www.npsf.org/pr/pressrel/2009-11-18.php. Accessed November 18, 2009.
25. American Medical Association. Routine Universal Immunization of Physicians for Vaccine-Preventative Disease. CEJA Report 5-I-10. Available at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/369/ceja-5i10.pdf. Accessed December 9, 2010.
26. Tosh P, Poland G. Healthcare worker influenza immunization. In: Medscape Infectious Diseases. 2007. Available at: http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/ 567336. Accessed November 12, 2008.
27. Poland GA, Jacobson RM. Protecting patients from harm: legislating vaccinations for healthcare workers. Am J Prev Med. 2007;32:544-546.
28. Palmore TN, Vandersluis JP, Morris J, et al. A successful mandatory influenza vaccination campaign using an innovative electronic tracking system. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009;30:1137-1142.
29. 2007 National Influenza Vaccine Summit Immunization Excellence Awards: Virginia Mason Medical Center's Mandatory Vaccination Campaign. 2007. Presentation at: Flu Summit; April 20, 2007; Atlanta, GA. Available at: http://www.preventinfluenza.org/summits/2007/Session-Four/Hagar-2007.pdf. Accessed October 19, 2009.
30. Mandatory flu vaccination program achieved almost total compliance. March 23, 2009. Available at: http://www.pediatricsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=38084. Accessed October 26, 2009.
31. Poland GA, Ofstead CL, Tucker SJ, Beebe TJ. Receptivity to mandatory influenza vaccination policies for healthcare workers among registered nurses working on inpatient units. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2008;29:170-173.
32. Tosh PK, Jacobson RM, Poland-Gregory A. Mandatory influenza vaccination for health care workers - a timely step forward. Md Med. 2006;7:21-23.
33. Poland GA. Valuing influenza vaccine: medical, economic, and social benefits. Clin Infect Dis. 2009;48:299-301.
34. Tucker SJ, Poland GA, Jacobson RM. Requiring influenza vaccination for health care workers. Am J Nurs. 2008;108:32-34.
35. Lindley MC, Horlick GA, Shefer AM, Shaw FE, Gorji M. Assessing state immunization requirements for healthcare workers and patients. Am J Prev Med. 2007;32:459-465.
36. Stewart AM, Cox M, Rosenbaum S. The Epidemiology of US Immunization Law: Immunization Requirements for Staff and Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities Under State Laws/Regulations. Washington, DC: George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services; 2005.
37. Immunization Action Coalition. Honor roll for patient safety: mandatory influenza vaccination policies for healthcare workers. Available at: http://www.immunize.org/laws/influenzahcw.asp. Accessed October 8, 2009.
38. Young A. Flu shots for workers hit sticking point. USA Today. November 5, 2009. Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-11-05-swine- fluworkers-N.htm. Accessed November 12, 2009.
39. Tilburt JC, Mueller PS, Ottenberg AL, Poland GA, Koenig BA. Facing the challenges of influenza in healthcare settings: the ethical rationale for mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination and its implications for future pandemics. Vaccine. 2008;26(suppl 4):D27-D30.
40. Beuchamp T, Childress J. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 5th ed. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 2001.
41. Orr P. Influenza vaccination for health care workers: a duty of care. Can J Infect Dis. 2000;11:225-226.
42. Wynia MK. Mandating vaccination: what counts as a "mandate" in public health and when should they be used? Am J Bioeth. 2007;7(12):2-6.
43. Caplan A. Health workers must get flu shot or quit. October 8, 2009. Available at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33210502/ns/health-health-care/. Accessed October 13, 2009.
44. Kass NE. An ethics framework for public health and avian influenza pandemic preparedness. Yale J Biol Med. 2005;78:239-254.
45. Mill JS. Introductory. In: On Liberty. 1859. Available at: http://www.utilitarianism.com/ol/one.html. Accessed November 11, 2009.
46. Gostin LO. Public Health Law: Power, Duty Restraint. 2nd ed. Berkeley: University of California Press; 2008.
47. Wilde JA, McMillan JA, Serwint J, Butta J, O'Riordan MA, Steinhoff MC. Effectiveness of influenza vaccine in health care professionals: a randomized trial. JAMA. 1999;281:908-913.
48. Stott DJ, Kerr G, Carman WF. Nosocomial transmission of influenza. Occup Med (Lond). 2002;52:249-253.
49. The Public Health Service Act, 42 USC § 264 (2001).
50. US Dept of Health and Human Services. Control of Communicable Diseases (Proposed Rule), 42 CFR Parts 70 and 71 (November 2005).
51. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza vaccination coverage levels. 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/Flu/professionals/acip/ coveragelevels.htm. Accessed November 21, 2009.
52. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seasonal flu and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). December 10, 2003. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/gbs.htm. Accessed February 2, 2010.