As colder seasons arrive in America, influenza cases will be on the rise. This year presents a particularly worrisome problem: the H1N1 avian swine flu. The virus, which reared its head uncharacteristically early this year has swept the nation, sickening and even killing people who typically have greater resistance to influenza. The federal government plans to buy enough swine flu vaccine for every American, but officials maintain that the vaccination will remain strictly voluntary for the average citizen, according to federal, state and local officials. However a heated debate has arisen over mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers.
Many public health authorities have come out in support of this mandatory vaccination because they are concerned that the disease not spread by means of hospitals. They feel patients, likely already ill if they are visiting a clinic or hospital, should be protected from further potentially-deadly infection. Furthermore, with the current nursing shortage and facing a epidemic, no one wants to lose healthcare providers during a peak in demand for healthcare.
William Schaffner, president-elect of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, said the move "is motivated solely by the dismal number of health-care workers who get vaccinated each year, which frankly is appalling."
However, the decision to make the vaccinations mandatory has angered many nurses. Only about a half of healthcare workers choose to get their annual flu shot despite the risk to patients. They feel that despite the frightening new H1N1 strain, they should still be allowed to choose for themselves whether or not they want the shot. The California Nurses Association / National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) issued a statement giving options around mandating that healthcare workers be given the vaccine. They outline alternatives to the mandate:
?The H1N1 virus presents a profound and unprecedented challenge to our nation?s fraying healthcare system. The H1N1 flu vaccine should be offered as one part of a comprehensive program to deal with this pandemic. That care plan must also contain immediate improvements to hospital infection control procedures, including the guarantee of an adequate supply of the appropriate N95 respirator masks as well as thoughtful isolation procedures, in addition to an immediate improvement to the public health safety net patients rely upon, and a moratorium of closures of hospitals and emergency rooms.?
?At the heart of this policy is the belief that every RN should be vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza virus, but nurses should maintain their right to decline for personal reasons; in addition, every RN who contracts H1N1 must be cared for properly by her facility and local government, including with the guarantee of appropriate sick leave and presumptive eligibility for workers? compensation.? The policy reads:
1. As frontline caregivers at the heart of the healthcare system, CNA/NNOC strongly recommends that all registered nurses (RNs) are vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza virus.
2. Any vaccination program for RNs should include extensive education on the risks and benefits of vaccination, with an emphasis on patient protection and the need to be prepared for a serious pandemic outbreak.
3. CNA/NNOC supports an RN?s right to decline vaccination.
4. RNs should be granted presumptive eligibility for workers? compensation benefits as a result of contracting the H1N1 influenza virus, and should not be subject to disciplinary action by an employer due to absenteeism or illness resulting from the vaccine."