Healthcare workers can reduce or eliminate the spread of contagious diseases simply by being vaccinated.
Healthcare providers are at risk for exposure to serious, sometimes deadly, diseases. Therefore, it is critical to stay current with the appropriate vaccines for personal protection and to reduce the chance of transmitting disease to vulnerable patients who may also expose their families.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. All healthcare professionals have a role to play in ensuring individuals are getting recommended vaccines. Be a champion for vaccination in your practice. Ensure all colleagues in your practice are sharing a consistent message about the importance of vaccines.
Influenza is a serious health concern that can lead to hospitalization and life-threatening complications. It can affect anyone, even those who are otherwise healthy, and can also be spread to others even when the infected person doesn’t feel sick. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recommend all U.S. healthcare workers get vaccinated annually against influenza.
Professionals who care for patients accept an overriding ethical imperative embodied in the Hippocratic Oath—first, do no harm. Unvaccinated workers who spread the flu can cause tremendous harm. This is especially true when vulnerable patients are involved. Those at highest risk for medical complications include individuals over 65 years of age and those who are frail from chronic medical problems.
It is well established that healthcare workers are a common source of transmission of influenza to their patients. It is absolutely incumbent upon us, who profess to put our patients first, to do everything in our power to assure the safety of patients in our care. Getting an annual influenza vaccine is a small gesture anyone can take to help protect those we care for.
Influenza cause thousands of deaths each year in the U.S. and costs more than $87 billion in lost productivity along with the loss of close to 17 million workdays¹. “Influenza vaccination not only benefits our patients by helping us protect them, it obviously does this by helping to protect us. And in turn, this helps protect those we love.”
Vaccinations play a key role in protecting the health and safety of healthcare workers and patients while also reducing absenteeism, lowering healthcare costs, and limiting other negative impacts of influenza.
Additional Resources
- First Do No Harm: Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Policies for Healthcare Personnel Help Protect Patients
Refer to the position statement of the leading medical organizations listed to help you develop and implement a mandatory influenza vaccination policy at your healthcare institution or medical setting. - Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations [1 page] One-page reference sheet detailing the vaccines and conditions for vaccinating HCWs
- HCW web button
Place this web button on your website so HCWs can quickly access this page to see what vaccines they need - Healthcare personnel resources from Immunization Action Coalition
- “Ask the Experts” MMR and HCW Questions and Answers
Answers to “If HCW develops rash after vaccinated, is he or she infectious?” “What is the recommendation?” - “Ask the Experts” Flu and HCW Questions and Answers
Answers to “Which HCWs need the vaccine?” “Can NICU staff receive vaccine without compromising their neonates?” and more
- “Ask the Experts” MMR and HCW Questions and Answers
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