Influenza Vaccination In Health Care

Many instances have been noted that healthcare providers are bringing the infection to the patients and not the patients bring the infection to the staff. Furthermore, It is well documented that nosocomial infection occurs (Rice, 2010) and hospitalized individuals face more complications and greater mortality from influenza. Healthcare providers are indirectly causing undo harm to patients that are more susceptible to infections such as influenza. “In nursing home settings, vaccination of healthcare workers has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality among nursing home residents” (Babcock, et al., 2010, p. 459). One study suggests that there is a higher rate of occurrence of influenza among healthcare providers than residents. “In elder-care settings, influenza among staff precedes illness among residents, suggesting that health care workers introduce the virus into the setting” (Anikeeva, Braunack-Mayer, & Rogers, 2009, p. 25).

Influenza results in excess of two hundred thousand hospitalizations in the United States (Tosh & Jacobson, 2010). Mortality rates for influenza related illness have risen. The purpose of this paper is to discuss mandated healthcare influenza vaccination in healthcare workers and will examine a Cochrane review summary, mandated healthcare influenza vaccination, and healthcare worker immunization practices in a Veterans Affairs Health Center.

Every year, millions of people start talking about the influenza virus and getting their vaccines as the flu season approaches, which starts around the October-November period and reaches its peak between December and March. Therefore, public health officials around the world- and in the U.S in particular- are constantly challenged by properly preparing for the annual influenza dilemma, given that this viruses, and other respiratory viruses, are a serious health threat to the U.S population and the world as a whole. Furthermore, what makes the influenza virus even more challenging to control is that it can mutate rapidly and reassort to form new strains, having the ability to reside in multiple animal hosts. In fact, many scientists and researchers have been doing in-depth intensive research so as to understand the mechanism behind this unique characteristic of the virus, try to find new ways to control it, and explore different areas of protection and vaccination.

To increase patient and hcw safety, health care workers should be mandate to get vaccination. Hcw are more at risk to get infection because of their contact with patient and then to spread it to patients, specially patients who are susceptible to the infection (CITATION). Influenza symptoms appears within 1-4 days. Before even hcw workes know that they have influenza infection and they are contagious, they may spread the infection to patient . Also, if hcw are infected, it will cause impact on their mental and physical functioning. Two randomly conducted studies have supported that mandatory influenza vaccination for hcw helped in decreasing death rate upto 44% in nursing home residents (Ottenberg, 2011). Potter et. al. identified that because of increased staff vaccination mortality rate reduced from 17% to 10% (Suillivan, 2010). The other fact which can effect patient safety due to low rate of vaccination is absenteeism of hcw during influenza epidemic.

Health care governments have endorsed an assortment of vaccination policies and mediations to safeguard against the known dangers of influenza communication, with longer patient stays, absenteeism, intermissions in health care, and death. Studies assessing the consequence of health care workers vaccination found that health care workers influenza vaccination was linked with a decrease in patient death (Murana, 2014). Assessing the results of health care worker influenza vaccination on patient results anticipated that if all health care workers were vaccinated, patient influenza infections could be stopped.

As employees and health care works of well known organizations, we have an ethical and moral obligation to make decisions and choices that reflect the best interest of the health of our patients. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2010), mandatory programs should be enforced for health professionals justifying the need for employees to receive the influenza vaccine. The Joint Commission believes that an estimated 80% or higher of influenza immunization rates are crucial for providing the necessary immunity needed to protect and reduce influenza infections or health-related illnesses (The American Academy of Pediatrics, 2010). Voluntary programs consist of having the vaccine readily available for employees for no cost, providing staff with education on influenza prevention, and having

Vaccination rates among the general population in the United States is an important public health intervention aimed at preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and premature deaths related to influenza. Among these vaccinations is the influenza vaccination, in which our paper will primarily focus on the barriers which prevent vaccination and determine ways to reduce the number of reasons people choose not to be immunized. We will look at some of the determinants and how they affect vaccination rates. These determinants include looking at: age, gender, marital status, education, ethnicity, socio-economic status, social and cultural values, housing, behavioral beliefs, social influences, previous vaccine experiences, perceived susceptibility, sources of information, perceived health status, healthcare system accessibility, affordability, knowledge and attitudes about vaccination, and physicians’ advice. By looking at the impact of these determinants, we can draw conclusions on how decreasing these barriers will impact the vaccination rate for the influenza vaccine. We will focus on the general population as a whole and at risk populations including: the elderly over the age of 65, children younger than 6 years old and health care workers.

The Situation/Challenge: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of influenza (flu)-associated deaths in the United States ranges from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000, annually (CDC, 2010). Vulnerable populations—those with a compromised immune system, elderly, very young children, and critically ill—are especially susceptible to the influenza. (Poland, 2005). Pre-exposure vaccination is the most effective method of preventing influenza and influenza-related morbidity and mortality (Poland, 2005). However, flu vaccination is frequently contra-indicated for the vulnerable

Information presented should address health care workers issues concerning vaccine safety and effectiveness. Supporting statistical data should validate the decision. There should be widespread discussions about the reasons for the policy. Allowances should be made for those nurses who have a legitimate reason for not taking it. Legitimate reasons could include but not limited to medical and religious reasons. To prevent the possibility of causing Guillain-Barre syndrome only egg free vaccine should be used. Another option would be to establish that a worker is not allergic to egg before receiving the flu vaccine. Review of the policy for effectiveness in preventing the flu and the impact on health care workers should be carried after a specified time

One way to help stop the spread of the influenza virus is through receiving yearly vaccinations. Every year through predictions, a group of scientists help drug companies develop vaccines for the approaching influenza season (Surviving the flu season, 2016). Due to the importance of receiving the vaccine there should be a plan in place that makes this vaccine more accessible to all individuals especially the younger population. A start could be partnering with the local medical community to initiate school vaccination programs. Having a nationwide program advocate for kids that do not have a primary doctors, insurance, or means or transportation to get to a clinic to be vaccinated would be highly beneficial. School based health clinics can be successful because kids are already in one central location around ninety-two to ninety-eight percent are in attendance at school on average (Herbert, Gargano, Painter, Sales, Morfaw, Murray, DiClemente, & Hughes, 2013). In addition, having kids get vaccinated at the same time could prevent influenza cases, and decrease medical care cost for families. School-age kids also remain carriers of the virus for an extended period of time, therefore targeting school-aged kids is critical to helping minimize the spread of the influenza virus in the community (Herbert et al., 2013). Additionally, having all students vaccinated can minimize the severity

“Multiple studies have been conducted worldwide to examine the reasons why healthcare workers decline the influenza vaccine.” (p.1). To support the need for additional research be done on this topic. The goal was to find out the reasons why nurses refuse to be vaccinated against the influenza vaccine.

Illnesses have long haunted the human race. As long as these illnesses have existed, humans have developed ways to cure themselves, beginning with simple herbs and proceeding as far as vaccines and complex medicines. One cure that long eluded scientists was that of the influenza virus. Now, the influenza vaccine, or flu shot, saves thousands of lives a year and helps prevent serious complications resulting from influenza infection.

According to Healthy People 2020 a goal of theirs is to “increase immunization rates and reduce preventable infections.” The influenza virus is one of these preventable infections, which can cause serious harm to patients. The influenza virus is known as the “flu.” Everyone in his or her life has had some experience with the flu, whether that is himself or herself or a family member. What if there was a way to ensure people from contracting a strain of the influenza virus? Well, thanks to technology and medical research there is.

Influenza A and B viruses are responsible for causing influenza. It is an acute respiratory illness that occurs every year mainly during fall and winter (from late November through March).1 Therefore, CDC recommends to vaccinate everyone 6 months and older with influenza vaccine every year. Children aged 6 months – 4 years, adults 50 years and over, health care professionals, immunosuppressed personnel, American Indians/ Alaska natives, extremely obese patients (BMI ≥ 40) and pregnant women should be prioritized to receive influenza vaccines in case of limited vaccine supply.2 Among adults, people over 65 years have more chances of complications, hospitalizations and death from influenza vaccine as most of them have some chronic diseases which

A common problem regarding compliance with the influenza vaccine is patients’ misconceptions that the vaccine itself can potentially cause them to contract the flu. As sentinels at the forefront of health of the community, it is critical (albeit profoundly challenging) for pharmacists to educate patients on these misunderstandings.