Flu Vaccination In Health Care

This immunization is stressed in the healthcare settings as healthcare providers encounter different types of bacteria and infections on a daily basis. Healthcare workers being exposed to such infections, should protect themselves, other healthcare workers and the public by being immunized. Administering the flu vaccination to healthcare staff not only decreases their risk of getting the infection but also, protects the patients that are around them. Such patients in the hospital or long-term setting have weakened immune system because of their already existing health condition. In such situations, if they encounter health care staff that is the carrier of bacteria the patients will get infected. This would reduce the quality of their stay, prolong the hospitalization and in patients who are immune-compromised could even lead to death. According to …show more content…
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Center for Infectious Diseases, and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America all recommend a multiple-prong approach that addresses HCWs’ perceived barriers to being vaccinated, provides access to free vaccine at the clinical work site, shows management and health care leader commitment and leadership, and measures results.” (Backer, H. 2006). This tends to increase the compliance as the staff does not have to take the time out of their busy schedule to get vaccinated at a different setting. In addition mandatory component of the flu vaccine ensures the adherence. According to recent studies performed, the hospital settings adhering to such protocols have decreased chances of flu­ related hospital acquired infections compared to the hospitals that don’t mandate the requirement of the flu