Friday, October 8, 2010
Censored on Forcing Flu Shots on Health Care Workers: Who Is Next?
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Submitted to AoA on Oct. 8, 2010 at 1:03pm (EDT)
ReplyDeleteA couple things to note. First, Ms. Loe Fisher talks about CHOP's efforts last year, but provides no information that the same policy is in effect this year. Further, she uses that policy from last year at CHOP and speaks as if that is the policy generally in use at hospitals around the country. This is not the case. Last year at my institution, all employees who had patient contact were required to get either the vaccine or to wear a mask whenever in patient areas. This year, nothing has been stated about this, yet.
Orac relates a similar policy in effect this year at his institution.
While these are only two examples, I'd wager that there are other hospitals that have similar policies. If an employee does not take proper steps to protect the hospital's patients by either getting vaccinated or wearing a mask, then they should not be around patients. Remember: first do no harm.
And, contrary to what Ms. Loe Fisher relates, it is not only medical exemptions that are allowed. Per a CHOP presentation to DHHS, philosophical exemptions were also allowed. See here: http://www.hhs.gov/ophs/programs/initiatives/vacctoolkit/choppresentation.html
Taking precautions to reduce the spread of influenza, whether by vaccine or masks, is a reasonable requirement for employees of a health care facility. It is like washing hands before seeing a patient or using only sterile equipment. It is particularly important when one considers that influenza can infect you no matter how healthy you think you are, and once infected, you are contagious even before symptoms appear.
On a side note, I see AoA's editors are selectively applying their commenting policy again by allowing remarks like "PharmaWhore".