Update: Joint statement on vaccine mandates
As reported in the January HEH, three leading infection prevention organizations issued a joint statement urging mandates for all federally recommended health care worker vaccinations. Those groups are: The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS).
The organizations urge hospitals that have not reached at least 90% vaccination coverage to make the recommended vaccines "a condition of employment, unpaid [volunteer] service, or receipt of professional privileges."
The statement continues, "For HCP who cannot be vaccinated due to medical contraindications or because of vaccine supply shortages, health care employers should consider, on a case-by-case basis, the need for administrative and/or infection control measures to minimize risk of disease transmission (e.g., wearing masks during influenza season or reassignment away from direct patient care).
"The societies also support requiring comprehensive educational efforts to inform HCP about the benefits of immunization and risks of not maintaining immunization."
The complete statement is available at www.shea-online.org.
